Links LRB Response to Mexico BC Supreme Court Petition Declaration of Victor Robles re: Blacklist Mexico labour ministry refuses to provide information La Jornada – 20 March 2012 B.C. court asked to muzzle labour board on Mexican union busting BIV Business Today - March 27, 2012 BC hearings start into Blacklisting of Mexican migrant workers UFCW Canada – February 21, 2012 B.C. labour activists rally for Mexican migrant workers CBC News - December 18, 2011 Vancouver protest on International Migrants Day aimed at Mexico blacklisting UFCW Canada - December 18, 2011 Migrant farmers discriminated after joining union 24 Hours - Vancouver - December 18, 2011 Concerns BC migrant workers are being blacklisted News1130 - December 18, 2011 Santa gets political in Vancouver London Free Press - December 17, 2011 "Stop the Blacklisting" protesters hold mock funeral outside Mexico Consulate in Vancouver UFCW Canada - November 14, 2011 Migrant workers protest alleged union blacklisting The Province - November 14, 2011 Mexican migrant workers picket consulate in Vancouver Calgary Herald - November 14, 2011 Protesta contra Consulado Mexicano por crear listas negra CNN EXPANSIÓN  - October 21, 2011 Labour sympathizers 'blacklisted' Vancouver Sun - October 18, 2011 BC activists protest Mexico claim of immunity UFCW Canada - October 17, 2011 Mexico claims immunity in B.C. charges UFCW Canada - October 17, 2011 Members of Mexican Congress demand answers UFCW Canada - May 27, 2011 Union busting allegations outlined at Mexico City media conference UFCW Canada - May 18, 2011 Mexican Gov't Union Busting in BC, Charges Union the Tyee - May 11, 2011 Charges allege Mexico consulate blacklisted migrant workers UFCW Canada - May 10, 2011 Backgrounder media release, 10 May 2011 Mexico blocking labour activists: Canadian union CBC News - May 10, 2011 Union accuses Mexican consulate of blacklisting farm workers Metro Vancouver - May 10, 2011 Downloads Declaration of Victor Robles re: Blacklist Charges filed against Mexico and Sidhu Charges filed against Mexico and Floralia, 28 April 2011 Evidence re:  blacklist activity Mexico's claim of immunity, 19 August 2011 Union's response to Mexico's claim of immunity, 6 September 2011

UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance are calling on all activists to support an international campaign to stop the Mexican government from reaching across Canada's border to violate our labour laws, our Charter, and the human rights of Mexican migrant workers in Canada.

Here are the facts. There are serious allegations that migrant farm workers in British Columbia are being blacklisted for voicing their support for the union and trying to exercise their basic Human Right to organize and bargain collectively.
 

Charges have been filed with the B.C. Labour Board  that the federal government of Mexico and its Vancouver consulate conspired with two British Columbia agriculture operations to blacklist Mexican seasonal migrant workers from returning to Canada this season because they were union sympathizers.

The evidence includes leaked documents that indicate blacklisting activity.  The charges were filed by UFCW Canada Local 1518 — the union that migrant workers at Floralia Farms and Sidhu Nurseries voted to join. In addition to the blacklist, the Mexico consulate has also told workers at B.C. farms to stop visiting union-run support centres operated by the Agriculture Workers Alliance.

What does Mexico say to all of this? Mexico and its Vancouver consulate have claimed diplomatic immunity.

But Mexico must listen and you can help. Send a message to Mexico President Felipe Calderón to Stop the Blacklisting of Migrant Workers:

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President Felipe Calderón Federal Government of Mexico President Calderón: As labour rights are human rights, and as the laws of Canada apply equally to all those who work here, I am asking you to Stop the Blacklisting of Mexican migrant workers who choose to exercise their legal right to join a union while working in Canada. Evidence before a labour tribunal in British Columbia, Canada indicates that your Ministry of Labour and your Mexico Consulate in Vancouver conspired with some agriculture operations in British Columbia to blacklist Mexican workers from returning to Canada who were suspected of being union supporters. The evidence also indicates that some workers were directed by your officials to lead union decertification campaigns at Floralia and Sidhu Farms, where your citizens had voted to join UFCW Canada and currently have collective agreements in place. These actions are illegal in Canada, and also contravene international conventions regarding the rights of migrant workers, and the rights of all workers to collective bargaining. President Calderón, as a leader elected to protect the people of Mexico, I ask you to guarantee an immediate end to the shameful blacklisting, and the violation of your citizens' rights to unionize and bargain for safer and better conditions while working in Canada. Sincerely,

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Copy of letter also forwarded to a number of other Mexican and Canadian government officials.