The Students Against Migrant Exploitation (SAME) along with youth volunteers from UFCW Canada Local 1977 are at the AWA Simcoe Centre today.
The SAME students are there as part of their outreach caravan that kicked off this week to promote the AWA to community members and agriculture workers in general in the Niagara and Simcoe regions. The youth group from Local 1977 visit the centre to get a first hand idea about the issues surrounding agriculture workers in Canada.
Both groups are an extension of the efforts of UFCW Canada and the AWA team to get university students and high school students involved in social justice issues and specially about migrant agriculture workers.
We will continue updating this story over the weekend with some of the important work these groups of students are providing the AWA centres of Simcoe and Virgil.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ag Worker in Critical Condition: UPDATE
For those following this story, we are happy to report that our brother Trinidad Mendieta is now conscious after a couple of days in comma.
Staff from the AWA Team had the opportunity to talk to family members about the condition of Mr. Mendieta yesteday afternoon and to provide support and advise about the rigths of Mr. Mendieta under his circumstances. The main concern for Mr. Mendieta's family was his legal situation in Canada now that he is not able to work again.
One of his family members expressed that "if he suffered the accident here, then he must be looked after and treated here [in Canada]."
We here at the AWA and UFCW Canada agreed and we will continue to work in order that his needs are met.
Mr. Mendieta's family have as one would imagine in this circumstances a lot of unanswer questions. Yet, all of them are positive and they are happy to report the support of the community of migrant workers who know Mr. Mendieta and many community members.
Mr. Mendieta's family said that his employer is in the process of setting an account so people can make donations to Mr. Mendieta's family back in Mexico.
The AWA team will continue to update everyone on this case as more information comes available.
Staff from the AWA Team had the opportunity to talk to family members about the condition of Mr. Mendieta yesteday afternoon and to provide support and advise about the rigths of Mr. Mendieta under his circumstances. The main concern for Mr. Mendieta's family was his legal situation in Canada now that he is not able to work again.
One of his family members expressed that "if he suffered the accident here, then he must be looked after and treated here [in Canada]."
We here at the AWA and UFCW Canada agreed and we will continue to work in order that his needs are met.
Mr. Mendieta's family have as one would imagine in this circumstances a lot of unanswer questions. Yet, all of them are positive and they are happy to report the support of the community of migrant workers who know Mr. Mendieta and many community members.
Mr. Mendieta's family said that his employer is in the process of setting an account so people can make donations to Mr. Mendieta's family back in Mexico.
The AWA team will continue to update everyone on this case as more information comes available.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Documenting Worker's Case
Today our AWA Team had the privilege to listen and document the story of our friend Esteban Rivera, whom in 2009 lost his arm while cleaning a machine.
He is still going to therapy and is continuing with his recovery at a hospital in Toronto before returning to his homeland later this month.
Still fresh in his memory, recounting that horrible day was not an easy task for our friend. Yet, he bravely volunteered to talk about his case in the hopes that his story could be told to other workers and perhaps in some ways encourage his "compañeros" (comrades) to stand up for their rights and voice their concerns with unsafe farm equipment or lack of it.
More importantly he challenged government authorities to really look at the current Health and Safety regulations and asked them to make the necessary adjustments to protect this vulnerable group of workers.
Thank you Esteban and we wish you the best as you return home.
The AWA Team
He is still going to therapy and is continuing with his recovery at a hospital in Toronto before returning to his homeland later this month.
Still fresh in his memory, recounting that horrible day was not an easy task for our friend. Yet, he bravely volunteered to talk about his case in the hopes that his story could be told to other workers and perhaps in some ways encourage his "compañeros" (comrades) to stand up for their rights and voice their concerns with unsafe farm equipment or lack of it.
More importantly he challenged government authorities to really look at the current Health and Safety regulations and asked them to make the necessary adjustments to protect this vulnerable group of workers.
Thank you Esteban and we wish you the best as you return home.
The AWA Team
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Ag Worker in Critical Condition After Tractor Crash
The AWA Team along with its members unite in prayer for our fellow brother Trinidad Mendieta Cuaxilotl whom is in intensive care at Hamilton General Hospital.
It is unfortunately that this tragedy had to happen in order to highlight the need for the Ontario government to look seriously at the lack of regulation in the agriculture sector.
Read more about UFCW Canada National President, Wayne Hanley, comments on this tragedy by clicking on the Twitter link on the right side.
In solidarity,
The AWA Team
It is unfortunately that this tragedy had to happen in order to highlight the need for the Ontario government to look seriously at the lack of regulation in the agriculture sector.
Read more about UFCW Canada National President, Wayne Hanley, comments on this tragedy by clicking on the Twitter link on the right side.
In solidarity,
The AWA Team
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