A total of 170 migrant workers at Highline Mushrooms’ four factory farms in Abbotsford, B.C., have unionized, joining the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518.
This marks a major step forward for a workforce often seen as some of the most vulnerable in Canada, according to a press release issued by UFCW.
“This is the first group of migrant agricultural workers in Canada to collectively exercise their fundamental right to join a union for many years: this victory reflects Highline Mushrooms workers’ courage and determination,” the UFCW said. “The key concerns for the workers at Highline Mushrooms are improving health and safety, ensuring a safe and fair work environment, being treated with dignity and respect, and the ability to bargain collectively.”
Highline Mushrooms, a subsidiary of the Japanese-owned Sumitomo conglomerate, which also owns agri-food giant Fyffes, employs many migrant agricultural workers, it said.
“This victory is important because the union UFCW 1518 now represents us, and we now have the support and ability to truly assert our rights as migrant workers,” said Ulises, a Highline Mushrooms worker. “With the support of our union, the UFCW, we will achieve greater dignity and respect, better working conditions, proper PPE, and more.”
Patrick Johnson, president of UFCW 1518, praised the workers’ efforts.
“Congratulations to our newest UFCW 1518 members at Highline Mushrooms, for asserting their rights and demanding that their voices are heard. These workers are an essential part of the B.C. workforce and community. We look forward to sitting down with the employer as soon as possible to negotiate a fair collective agreement.”
Card check legislation helped: UFCW
The B.C. NDP government’s 2022 card check legislation, which aims to protect agricultural workers’ rights, has been instrumental in this unionization effort, it said. UFCW Canada has long advocated for both domestic and migrant agricultural workers, representing over 255,000 members across the country.
“Labour rights are human rights, and we are proud to welcome mushroom workers into our UFCW family,” said Shawn Haggerty, National President of UFCW Canada. “We are also looking forward to developing a constructive relationship with Highline and its parent company Sumitomo-Fyffes, as social partners committed to advancing decent work and socially sustainable supply chains for the agrifood sector.”
Global support
The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) applauded the unionization.
“This victory in Canada provides inspiration to migrant food workers throughout the world, who are the backbone of the global agrifood industry,” said Sue Longley, General Secretary of the IUF. “This transnational corporation has made strong commitments through their global policies about fully respecting their workers’ right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and we trust that they will honour these principles. The world, and the global food workers’ movement, is watching.”