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Article
Temporarily Unchained: The Drive to Unionize Foreign Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Canada -- A Comment on Greenway Farms and UFCW
BC Studies (2011)
  • Robert M. Russo
Abstract
This case comment addresses the recent phenomenon of the unionization of temporary foreign agricultural labour in British Columbia.It focuses on a decision addressing unionization of a subset of temporary foreign workers, seasonal agricultural workers, who come to Canada through the federally administered Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP).
This commentary focuses on the Greenway/UFCW decision and its ramifications for guest workers in the SAWP working on BC farms. To that end, it will first include a brief explanation of the SAWP and of law relating to unionization of agricultural workers in Canada. I will then comment on the Board’s decision with a focus on the arguments both for and against extending rights to this group of temporary foreign workers. Finally, I will conclude with a comment on unionization as a means of extending post-national rights to temporary foreign workers.
Keywords
  • unions,
  • temporary foreign workers,
  • farm workers,
  • collective bargaining
Publication Date
Spring 2011
Citation Information
Robert M. Russo. "Temporarily Unchained: The Drive to Unionize Foreign Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Canada -- A Comment on Greenway Farms and UFCW" BC Studies (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robert_russo/3/