Making connections in Toronto

L-R: Victor Carrozzino, Pablo Godoy, Wayne Hanley, José and Father Juan Luis.

On October 22 the Just Work delegation met with Wayne Hanley, National President; Victor Carrozzino, Executive Assistant; and Pablo Godoy, National Representative, of the UFCW Canada.  Pablo is also the UFCW’s liaison with Students against Migrant Exploitation (S.A.M.E.):

Students Against Migrant Exploitation (S.A.M.E) educates and empowers students and youth alike on issues that affect migrant workers. Our advocacy programs aim to inform the broad community on the circumstances and experiences of the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers that come to Canada yearly.

L-R: Diego, Victor Carrozzino, Executive Assistant to the UFCW Canada National President, José and Father Juan Luis.

Next, the delegation went to speak with senior officials from the Ontario Federation of Labour.

L-R Janice, José, Edgar, Irwin and Father Juan Luis at the OFL.

The delegation met with Janice Gairey, Human Rights Director of OFL, Edgar Godoy, Director, and Irwin Nanda, Executive Vice President of the OFL.

Edgar and Janice are coordinators of the We are Ontario Common Front Campaign which has recently included migrant workers as a vital part of the campaign.

Late in the day, the delegation headed for the Workers Action Centre (WAC) where they met with close to 30 activists, and members of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC).

Some of the groups present were WAC, Justicia 4 Migrant Workers, No One is Illegal, Migrante Canada – an alliance of Filipino migrant and immigrant organisations in Canada with member organisations in BC, Alberta, Winnipeg, Toronto, Barrie, Ottawa, Montreal and New Brunswick.

Diego with staff member, Sonia Singh at the WAC in Toronto.

As the WAC shared today on their website:

During the gathering, participants shared the  histories and goals of our organizing. Jose described the fear of reprisal workers face, even when they have returned home, and the abuses of private recruitment companies. MWAC members shared the experience of farmworkers and caregivers in Ontario, and the need to strengthen and extend protection against recruitment fees to all migrant workers.