CHAPTER 7 Transnational Labor Solidarity versus State-Managed Coercion: UFCW Canada, Mexico, and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program

The Legal, Economic, and Social Vulnerabilities Experienced by Seasonal Mexican Agricultural Workers Before and During COVID-19

“…The SAWP is also typically framed as an economic model of migration that is beneficial to both the sending and receiving countries. While Canada receives significant economic benefit out of the recruitment of these workers, there is a general consensus that the program serves as an opportunity to increase the quality of lives for migrant workers who participate (Galvez et al, 2019;Verna, 2003;Valenzuela, 2011), especially through the remittances that they send home for their families. This family element is undoubtedly notable through the fact that most workers are married men between the ages of 18 to 45, who have families to take care of back home (Galvez et al, 2019, p. 191;Wells et al, 2014).…”

“…for anyone who meets the requirements, around 80% of participating workers are selected after being "named" by their employer to come back for another year. To be named, the worker must have satisfied the employer with their job duties enough that they would want them to return for another season (Galvez et al, 2019).…”

Scaling Migrant Worker Rights

“…This centrally managed but locally implemented organizational front created a sense of continuity that worked in unions' favor, as one South Bay building trades leader was amazed to find over the years: "To my surprise, every single one of them has been very supportive. " 29 Finally, much of the labor union organizing in immigrant-dense cities such as Chicago is decidedly transnational (Galvez, Godoy, and Meneima 2019;de Graauw, Gleeson, and Bada 2019). Working with the consulate not only unlocks much-needed resources but opens up another avenue for holding the Mexican government accountable.…”

“…INILAB forged a network of twelve organizations from Canada to Central America with ties to United Food and Commercial Workers of America (UFCW), an international union with operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico City. UFCW, in turn, has worked to support immigrant workers in the United States, as well as seasonal agricultural workers in Canada, and has explored opportunities for launching a campaign aimed at Walmart workers in Mexico (Galvez, Godoy, and Meneima 2019).…”

“…The union would also later denounce corruption in the state of Guanajuato, singling out officials in Mexico's Ministry of Labor who were illegally demanding kickbacks from migrant workers. The campaign won restitution for Mexican guest workers who had experienced retaliation after they exposed these rampant violations (Galvez, Godoy, and Meneima 2019).…”