A worker activist, his local union president, two legal clinics and a federal MP have been honoured for helping to improve the plight of migrant agricultural workers in Canada.
Since 2000, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) have hosted an annual awards event to recognize individuals and organizations for their social justice efforts on behalf of Canada’s agricultural workers.
The 2014 UFCW Canada-AWA Awards recipients are:
- Romeo Yup Iquite, TUAC Local 501 Steward and AWA Activist
- Alain Lachaîne, President, TUAC Canada Local 501
- Income Security Advocacy Centre
- Niagara North Community Legal Assistance
- Jinny Sims, MP, NDP Critic for Employment and Social Development.
For 35 years UFCW has advocated for both domestic and migrant agriculture workers in Canada. Their campaigns have helped secure improved employment rights including better health and safety protection for farm workers.
In association with the AWA, the UFCW Canada operates a network of ten help centres across Canada which assist farm workers with health and safety and workers compensation issues but also supports them in securing medical treatment, union representation and parental leave benefits.
Stan Raper, AWA national coordinator and awards emcee, said, “With our labour and community partners we celebrate these collective victories for agriculture workers.” Raper recognized both Workers Health & Safety Centre and Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers for their committed work on behalf of vulnerable farm workers.
Learn more about the Agriculture Workers Alliance.
Check out AWA Awards dinner photos at facebook.com/WHSCtraining.
The Workers Health & Safety Centre offers a full range of health and safety training for workers, supervisors, joint health and safety committee members and worker representatives. Contact WHSC and ask to speak with a training services representative to learn more.
Call: 1-888-869-7950
Visit: www.whsc.on.ca
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca