Migrant workers go to the Canadian Supreme Court

The Canadian Supreme Court will today for the first time hear a matter on the plight of migrant workers in that country.



The case is brought by the United Food and Commercial Workers, a union which has been trying for years to organize agriculture workers.



It will be heard as part of Fraser versus Attorney General of Ontario, which relates to the right to organize and bargain collectively for Ontario’s 100,000 agricultural workers.



The case has received the support of a community group called Justicia for Migrant Workers and the Industrial Accidents Victims Group of Ontario.



An organizer with Justicia, Chris Ramsaroop says they are seeking to get the Canadian Supreme Court to rule that migrant workers be guaranteed representation and protection.



According to Justicia, there are 100,000 agricultural migrant workers in the province of Ontario.



Mr. Ramsaroop said a majority of these workers are Jamaicans with a significant number from Mexico and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.



He said it is illegal for migrant workers to organize and seek union representation in Ontario.



According to him, employers of migrant workers use this to the disadvantage of workers who go to the province on a temporary or seasonal employment programme.



Agriculture migrant workers were last allowed to organize in 1994, but when the provincial government changed, the administration outlawed union representation.



The case now before the Supreme Court, started 13 years ago.