Global Solidarity | UFCW Canada - Canada’s Private Sector Union

Global Union Federation and Sustainable Supply Chains

Introduction

UFCW Canada is fully committed to global solidarity efforts that advance human rights, including the right to join a union. For over 100 years, UFCW has organized with activists and allies around the world to fight injustices, demand fairness for workers and their families, and ensure that the voices of working people are heard by those in power.

Solidarity is an integral part of our union’s history and continues to be a core value for UFCW Canada. UFCW Canada is proudly supporting the global push to establish labour rights as fundamental and inalienable human rights protected by law.

Labour rights are human rights, and UFCW Canada supports the brave efforts of workers around the world to exercise these universal rights, which are formally recognized by the United Nations. For instance, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes the right to join and belong to a trade union, and Canada has signed this document.

In today’s world, multi-national employers control global supply chains: as such, labour unions must work on a multi-national level in the fight for decent work and sustainable supply chain.

International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF)

UFCW is a longstanding affiliate of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), a global federation of trade unions representing 10 million workers in the agriculture, food and beverage sectors, and more. IUF engages global food companies to collaborate on advancing decent work through transnational supply chains.

The IUF, based in Europe, is the voice of food workers at the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other UN agencies.

UNI Global Union

UFCW Canada belongs to UNI Global Union, an international labour organization that represents more than 20 million workers from over 150 different countries in the skills and service sectors.

With staff and partners throughout the world, UNI Global Union brings together workers from over 150 different countries in the service economy to win better jobs and better lives. UNI helps workers build power by growing unions through organizing; protecting and expanding collective bargaining; and holding corporations and governments accountable to workers, not just an elite few.

International Labour Organization and United Nations

In May 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) released policy guidlenes for the promotion of decent work in the agri-food sector. Experts from the IUF, which included UFCW Canada, worked to help develop these guidelines.

The promotion of decent work for all is a key objective of the UN’s 2023 sustainable development goals. Goal 8 states to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” The guidelines are intended to provide UN member states and ILO constituents, like transnational corporations, with guidance in development and implementing policies to promote decent work in the agri-food sector.

Mexico

UFCW Canada works closely with Mexican governments, building cross-border solidarity with partners in Mexico to strengthen protections for migrant agricultural workers employed in Canada. These relationships are focusing on improving the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and ensuring that worker voices are at the heart of future reforms.

UFCW Canada has negotiated agreements directly with multiple levels of government in Mexico, partnering to train and advocate for migrant workers, working with jurisdictions such as the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Mexico City, Guerrero, and Michoacán..