Join us on Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 12pm to 4pm in Toronto to celebrate our unity, solidarity and victories together! We will have food, fun, and games. Feel free to also bring your own favourite dishes to share with others.
PLEASE NOTE: This event is only for MWAC members, families and friends. Space is limited, sign up now!
Paint or write on a square fabric that will be stitched together into a large quilt to represent migrant solidarity and struggles and will be part of our push to win Status for All!
On Saturday, November 26, 2022, join online to hear from Migrant Workers Alliance for Change members who recently went to Ottawa to demand regularization and status for all!
ONLINE AT 7PM TO \ 4PM VAN on Zoom: Watch and listen live to the migrant leaders themselves! A Zoom link will be sent by email after you register below.
In an open petition letter to the President of Mexico and Prime Minister of Canada, Mexican farmworker members of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change expose the reality of working and living in Canada and demand Permanent Status for All.
Inspired by and united with Jamaican farmworker comrades, who wrote an open letter to their government in August, Mexican members write, “The billion-dollar agri-food industry depends on us, the workers. For more than half a century our well-being has not has not been thought of, and we are still treated as disposable objects”.
Migrant farmworker members invite political leaders “to be part of history and give us the respect we deserve […] and end this system of modern slavery.”
Among migrant farmworkers’ key demands outlined in the open letter: Permanent resident status to all upon arrival, including seasonal farm workers.
Do you agree? Sign below to add your voice!
Full letter written by Farmworkers:
To: Citizen President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau
Citizen President of the Republic of the United Mexican States
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau
Dear President and Prime Minister:
We are a group of Mexican agricultural workers and members of the Migrant Workers Alliance for a Change employed as migrant workers, many of us under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Canada. We have been working here for 2 to 20 years.
We want to tell you the truth about working on farms and food processing in Canada and share our demands for change. Thousands of united voices are rising from Canadian farms and we stand together with our colleagues from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Philippines, and Caribbean countries just to mention a few. We work in fields and food processing factories, in greenhouses, vineyards, and fisheries.
The billion-dollar agri-food industry depends on us, the workers. For more than half a century, our well-being has not been thought of, and we are still treated as disposable objects for employers. We sleep in bunk beds with bed bugs, in houses full of rats, sharing the bathroom with more than ten people, we have no privacy. We feel powerless arriving at a house without the warmth of our family, sad and alone, we feel a huge emptiness, we only see the tired faces of our coworkers. It is humiliating not being able to have a private call with our families, the bosses tell us that having privacy is not important. Many of us spend more than half the year separated from our families.
For decades many of our colleagues have lost their lives in Canada, many others have permanent damage to their health that they cannot afford. The abuse at work that we experience is inhumane, we have to endure shouting, racist comments, insults (like “eat sh*t”, “son of a b*tch”, “you’re a piece of sh*t”, “you’re useless”). The vast majority of the insults we receive are not in Spanish, but we know they insult us because they are screaming at us. They refer to us as if we were their property. They punish us by taking away days or hours of work if they think we don’t work fast enough, and when we don’t work we can’t send money to our families who depend on us.
It is dangerous for us to defend our rights. Employers threaten to fire us, deport us, and kick us out of the program. Without permanent status, employers have the power to get rid of us whenever they please as if they owned us.
When we talk to the consulate they tell us to listen to the employer, that we are here to work and if we do not like it we can go back to Mexico, that there are many people waiting to replace us. Temporary status makes it impossible for us to defend our rights.
President, you are responsible for our well-being, so we ask you to do the following:
– Pressure the Canadian government to implement and enforce National Housing Standards;
– Protect us at work by implementing an anonymous system for reporting abusive employers that won’t put our safety or jobs at risk. We ask you that when we make a complaint stand up and represent us;
– Facilitate and support us to get an open work permit so we can transfer to another farm, either during the season or before the start of each season;
– Ensuring job security and ending the practice of observations made by employers in our files that are not real, this often results in the expulsion of workers from the program without the possibility of appeal or transfer;
– Make sure that the Mexican consulates in Canada do their job to see to the welfare of Mexican workers abroad, that the consuls have contact with us, not with the employers, create a commission of migrant workers that evaluate the work of the consulate because nobody supervises them, they can do what they want with us,
– Allow us to represent ourselves and our interests in contract negotiations;
Provide more education about the contracts we sign, what our rights are in Canada, and support us in accessing and enforcing our rights;
– Allow access to benefits that we pay through deductions and taxes, such as: regular unemployment insurance benefits, parental benefits as was the case before the amendment to the law in 2012, full pension and survivor benefits to our families in case of death, child tax benefits that any Canadian citizen can obtain and for that reason;
– Call on the Canadian government to grant permanent resident status to all upon arrival, including seasonal farm workers.
As agricultural workers in Canada we experience abuses, unjustified dismissals, deportations, mistreatment and above all intimidation, because without permanent status in Canada we have to endure all of the above with the vague hope that next year we will return. Everything mentioned is a system of exploitation, in which the Canadian and Mexican governments take part by ignoring complaints, actively participating in deportations, and giving more power to employers than to workers.
We know our fellow Mexicans in other industries, like construction and warehouse workers, cleaners, international students, and undocumented workers are also facing injustice and are denied equal rights. We all need permanent resident status for all to protect ourselves and live with dignity.
We invite you to be part of history and give us the respect we deserve both in Canada and in Mexico and to end this system of modern day slavery.
Att: Written and signed by Agricultural workers and Migrants members of MWAC
Miriam, Victor, Oscar, Blanca, Gabriel C., Esteban, Maximino, Humberto, Hernandez, Pablo, Esteban, Victor R., Octavio, Jorge, Ines, Bibiano, Gabriel, Byron, Juan, Prisciliano, Moises, Cruz, Carlos, Leonel, Samuel, Refugio, Samuel
Grupo de Trabajadores/as Agrícolas Migrantes exponen la realidad de trabajar y vivir en Canada y demandan Residencia Permanente para Todos/as,
En la carta petición los trabajadores mencionan que: “La billonaria industria agroalimentaria depende de nosotros/as, los/as trabajadores/as. Durante más de medio siglo nuestro bienestar no se ha tomado en cuenta, los/as empleadores/as nos tratan como objetos desechables.”.
Unidos/as “Les invitamos a ser parte de la historia y darnos el respeto que merecemos tanto en Canadá como en México y terminar con este sistema de esclavitud moderna”.
Entre sus demandas los/as trabajadores/as piden: “el Estatus de Residente Permanente a todos/as los/as inmigrantes a su llegada, incluyendo trabajadores agrícolas de temporada”.
Carta completa escrita por Trabajadores Agrícolas:
Ciudadano Presidente de la República de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Andrés Manuel López Obrador y Primer Ministro de Canadá Justin Trudeau
Estimado Presidente y Primer Ministro:
Somos un grupo de trabajadores/as agrícolas mexicanos/as y miembros/as de la Alianza de Trabajadores Migrantes por un Cambio, muchos empleados bajo el Programa de Trabajadores Temporales en Canadá. Hemos estado trabajando aquí entre 2 a 20 años.
Queremos decirle la verdad sobre cómo es trabajar en las granjas y procesadoras de alimentos en Canadá y compartir nuestras demandas para un cambio. Miles de voces unidas se están levantando desde las granjas canadienses y nos unimos a nuestros/as colegas de Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Filipinas y los países del Caribe, solo por mencionar algunos. Trabajamos en campos y fábricas de procesamiento de alimentos, en invernaderos, viñedos y plantas pesqueras.
La billonaria industria agroalimentaria depende de nosotros/as, los/as trabajadores/as. Durante más de medio siglo nuestro bienestar no se ha tomado en cuenta, los/as empleadores/as nos tratan como objetos desechables. Dormimos en literas con chinches, en casas llenas de ratas, compartiendo el baño con más de diez personas, ¡no tenemos privacidad! Nos sentimos impotentes llegando a una casa sin el calor de nuestra familia nos sentimos tristes y solos/as, sentimos un vacío enorme. Solo vemos los rostros cansados de los/as compañeros/as. Es humillante no poder tener una llamada privada con nuestras familias, los patrones nos dicen que tener privacidad no es importante. Muchos/as de nosotros/as pasamos más de la mitad del año separados/as de nuestras familias.
Durante décadas, muchos de nuestros/as colegas han perdido la vida en Canadá, muchos otros/as tienen daños permanentes en su salud que no pueden pagar. El abuso en el trabajo que vivimos es inhumano, tenemos que soportar gritos, insultos, comentarios racistas cuando los/as empleadores/as hablan español nos dicen insultos como: “come mierda hijo de puta, eres una mierda no sirves para nada”, se refieren a nosotros como si fuéramos de su propiedad, pero la gran mayoría de los insultos que recibimos no son en español, sabemos que nos insultan porque nos gritan. Nos castigan quitándonos días u horas de trabajo, cuando no trabajamos mandamos menos dinero a nuestras familias que dependen de nosotros/as.
Es peligroso para nosotros/as defender nuestros derechos. Los/as empleadores/as nos amenazan con despedirnos, deportarnos y expulsarnos del programa. Sin un estatus permanente, los/as empleadores/as tienen el poder de deshacerse de nosotros/as cuando les plazca como si fueran nuestros/as dueños/as.
Cuando hablamos con el consulado nos dicen que le hagamos caso al patrón/a, que estamos aquí para trabajar, que si no nos gusta nos podemos regresar a México, que hay mucha gente esperando para reemplazarnos. El estatus temporal nos impide defender nuestros derechos.
Presidente, usted es responsable de nuestro bienestar, por lo que le pedimos que haga lo siguiente:
Como trabajadores/as agrícolas en Canadá vivimos abusos, despidos injustificados, deportaciones, maltrato y sobre todo intimidación, porque sin estatus permanente en Canadá tenemos que soportar todo lo anterior con la vaga esperanza de que el próximo año regresaremos.
Todo lo mencionado es un sistema de explotación, en el que el gobierno Canadiense y el Mexicano son parte al ignorar las denuncias, participar activamente en deportaciones y otorgar más poder a los empleadores que a los/as trabajadores/as.
Sabemos que nuestros/as compatriotas mexicanos/as en otras industrias, como trabajadores/as de la construcción y almacenes, limpiadores/as, estudiantes internacionales y trabajadores/as indocumentados/as, también enfrentan injusticias y se les niega la igualdad de derechos. Todos/as necesitamos el estatus de residente permanente para protegernos y vivir con dignidad.
Les invitamos a ser parte de la historia y darnos el respeto que merecemos tanto en Canadá como en México y terminar con este sistema de esclavitud moderna.
Att: Escrita y firmada por Trabajadores/as Agrícolas en Canadá y miembros/as de la Alianza de Trabajadores Migrantes por un Cambio
Miriam, Victor, Oscar, Blanca, Gabriel C., Esteban, Maximino, Humberto, Hernandez, Pablo, Esteban, Victor R., Octavio, Jorge, Ines, Bibiano, Gabriel, Byron, Juan, Prisciliano, Moises, Cruz, Carlos, Leonel, Samuel, Refugio, Samuel
Written by his daughter, Tamara Smythe
This is a tribute to the late Mervin Samuel Smythe also affectionately called Firdy or Tail Pipe. Late of Fine Grass District Walderston Manchester Jamaica.
He was a trusted and loyal friend, a very good husband to my late mother Pauline Elizabeth Smythe and indeed he was the world’s number one in a million dad to myself Tamara Smythe and my brother Johnoy Smythe. There was never a dull moment with him. He was always giving jokes and breaking the ice in any crowd. He loved to dance and eat curried goat. He said, Goat make you strong.
He dedicated his life to making his family successful. He never thought it to be a burden to assist anyone with anything, be it a loan or some good human service. He always have a lot of encouraging words. Many in the community loved him dearly as he always visit his friends and family and give them a hail and ask them how they were doing.
He was dedicated to his farming as that was the only life he knew, to use his hands to nurture and care whether crops or animals to maturity.
He was a migrant worker for the past 20 years. As a result of that, he was away for six months out of the year. We did have fun together and tried to get as much of him as was possible for the other six months that he would be with us.
He missed out on so many things because he worked so far away however it was a sacrifice he was willing to make, as it was the best way he knew to take care of his family.
Daddy always taught me to fight for what I believed in and he led by example. In the last two years of his time as a migrant worker he did join the community organization Migrant Workers Alliance for Change as he strongly believed in Status for all migrants in Canada. He stood up for what he believed in. He made posters and did anything required in the fight for such a positive change. He never got a chance to live to see the change however I know his contribution meant a lot. I do sincerely hope that his efforts and work on the migrant workers programme was not in vain and will impact the needed positive change.
My dad retired in 2020 and became a pensioner for the year 2021. He said he was getting ill and was not able to continue the programme. He passed away on the fourth of November 2021 and went home to be with mom. He left behind six grand kids, one daughter in law whom he loved and cared for very much.
I am honoured that I am able to give this tribute to my dad on this platform and say farewell and goodbye to a wonderful, trustworthy, faithful, courageous, dedicated, tactful and a prime example to follow. My dad Mervin Samuel Smythe. You are definitely missed.
On November 14, migrant representatives from across the country are going to Ottawa. 15 of them will be migrant representatives from Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC).
Come to this MWAC MEMBERS ONLY meeting to tell our representatives what they should say on our behalf when they meet with government officials. Come prepared to share your opinion and passion with our representatives.
Saturday, November 5 at 12pm Toronto | 9am Vancouver | 10am Regina
Fill out the form and check your email for the Zoom link!
More information below the form
MWAC representatives have been selected by each of our sectors (Migrant Farmworkers, Students, Care Workers & Healthcare workers) on the following basis:
* Able to represent all of us collectively,
* From different communities, industries of work, and previous immigration status.
We are prioritizing more undocumented representatives at this time as we have the potential to change laws for undocumented people (regularization) right now. But we are also ensuring that those on work permit, study permits, and with refugee status are represented.
Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister Sean Fraser, and other MPs from different political parties have been invited to meet with us. But have not confirmed.
Watch our videos on YouTube to learn more about your options and how you can join the push to change unfair immigration rules!
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Jobandeep Singh Sandhu was arrested on December 17, 2017, just two weeks before his graduation. His crime? Working more than 20 hours per week.
Throughout 2018, he tried to stop his deportation but without success. Finally, just ten days before he was to be kicked out, he reached out to us at the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC).
We did everything we could. Over 52,000 people signed a petition. We took over the Minister of Immigration’s office. We got media attention, but we couldn’t stop his removal.
Until that point, we had already been calling for an end to the 20-hour work rule because it just gives too much to employers. Migrant students are either forced or don’t have a choice but to work more simply to make ends meet. And when bosses know that we are doing “irregular work” – they steal our wages and mistreat us.
But in June 2019, right after Jobandeep was deported, we launched Migrant Students United. Our objective was, and is, to create an organization to unite current and former migrant student workers to fight for our rights.
Keep reading to find out what the change announced today was!
Our first goal was to end the 20 hour work limit, and that brings us to today. This morning, Minister Sean Fraser announced the removal of the 20 hour work limit for some students for a short window of time. If this rule was in place in 2017, Jobandeep would not have been arrested, he would still be in Canada.
Over the years, thousands of migrant student workers, and supporting organizations have joined forces towards a fairness agenda for current and former international students. Today’s announcement is our collective success. It proves what we have always known: united we are stronger, united we win.
The Minister of Immigration called today’s announcement a response to the “labour shortage crisis”, but this isn’t true. There is no labour shortage crisis, only a crisis of low wages and exploitative working conditions. The solution is worker power and our ability to move between jobs.
Today’s announcement will give at least 500,000 migrant student workers more power to make choices and walk away from abuse. That is our success, and we also know that it’s not enough. The program announced today is temporary, only from November 15, 2022 to the end of 2023; and not everyone is included, only those with valid study permits or who have applied for a study permit. We know that employers will use this tiered system to exploit those that don’t have as much power as others.
This is why Migrant Students United is a part of a cross-country movement demanding permanent resident status for all migrants, including students. On Sunday, October 16, 2022, we will be at actions across Cabinet Minister offices across the country making sure our voices are heard, join us: www.MigrantRights.ca/Oct16.
Permanent Resident status for ALL migrant student workers immediately including:
Our victory was covered in the Toronto Star, CBC News, CTV News, Global News, The Times of India, Radio Canada, and more.
Check out what members of Migrant Students United, Harshill and Adri said to the Toronto Star:
Harshill, a former international student at Humber College, said he is “so happy to see our efforts are paying off.” He said he was afraid and had to keep his silence when he injured his finger at a restaurant job where he worked for cash with no paperwork.
Adri, an undergraduate international student at York University, was also happy with the news, saying, “It was really hard to find jobs with the 20-hour limitation. I work two jobs right now to make ends meet. But now I can find a full-time job or ask my boss to increase my hours.”
“It’s a step in the right direction. This change must be made permanent,” said Migrant Students United at the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, adding that “this gives them the power to protect themselves from exploitation, abuse and mistreatment at work.”
We deserve more than temporary measures, we need permanent solutions and permanent resident Status for All. Here’s how you can take action to continue our fight for equal rights, dignity and fairness:
Join the next Migrant Students United meeting to connect with others like you, hear more about our strategy to win changes to immigration and permit rules, and make action plans for what’s next: Wednesday November 2, 2022 at 7pm Toronto / 4pm Vancouver / 5pm Edmonton / 8pm Halifax time.
This year, we are continuing our campaign to win:
Migrant Students United is a group of current and former international students uniting for justice. Get involved and join us to win fair rules, equal rights and PR status for all of us!
Add your name to this petition to ensure all our voices are heard: https://MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/msufairness/
