2011.12.13, 5:00 PM
On December 13, 2011, Justicia for Migrant Workers (J4MW) is urging community members and allies to attend this important county council meeting and support the rights of migrant workers to live in our communities. Justicia for Migrant Workers are urging allies to provide deputations in support of the right of migrant workers. Recently in Norfolk county there has been strong opposition from local community members of Windham Centre to oppose the conversion of a former elementary school into a bunkhouse for migrant workers. Some community members have expressed concern that if migrant workers are to be permitted to live next to them the sheer number of migrants will lead to “a potential increase in crime, pressure on existing water and septic systems, and a decrease in local property values” according to the local newspaper. A resident was quoted in the same story arguing that the migrant workers should not permitted to live at the potential site because it is not adjoined to the employer’s property. The resident argues “A bunkhouse is supposed to be on the property where (the workers) are employed and where they are under supervision.”
The comments are unacceptable and offensive to the dignity of the men and women who grow our food. Furthermore, these disturbing comments expose a trend of racism that appears to be too common in farming areas where the presence of migrant workers is essential to their economy. Migrant workers are welcome to toil in our fields but they are not good enough to live as our neighbours.
J4MW strongly condemns the xenophobic and racist response from the community to the tentative arrival of approximately 40 migrant workers to their community. Rather than attack the workers and deny their presence in Windham centre, J4MW is urging that:
• migrant worker rights to be respected by the community
• refocus efforts to ensure that migrant housing is protected through landlord tenant legislation which currently excludes agricultural operations
• bunkhouses and other migrant farmworker housing is open to inspection from migrant rights organization such as J4MW
• migrant workers’ rights at work are respected and that steps will be provided to ensure anti-reprisal measures against workers who want to complain relating to working and living conditions
Newspapers links for references:
Migrant bunkhouse plan for Windham Centre meets with resistance-Simcoe Reformer
http://www.simcoereformer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3375128
Company Defends Plans for Former School- Brantford Expositor
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/PrintArticle.aspx?e=3384092
For more information:
web: www.justicia4migrantworkers.org
tumblr: http://j4mw.tumblr.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justice4mw
twitter: http://twitter.com/j4mw
e-mail: j4mw.on@gmail.com
Norfolk County Administration Building, Council Chambers
50 Colborne St. South
Simoncoe
Ontario
N3Y 4H3
Canada
Agriculture and horticulture workers
Documented cases of abuse and Support initiatives
Public awareness
Right to change employer, Right to choose place of residence, Right to unionize, Labour standards, Health and safety at work, Newcomers integration programs, Health care & social services, Access to permanent status, Free employment services, Family reunification, Legal aid, Employment insurance, Social security, Remittances and co-development programs, Trips abroad and re-entries, Recrutement / placement agencies, Housing standards, Migration expenses reimbursement mechanisms, Impartial hearing before deportation, Status regularization procedures, Determination fair wages and labour shortage, (Im)migrant workers selection criteria, Right to equality (gender), Right to equality (national origin), Right to equality (social status), Right to liberty, Right to dignity, Right to privacy, and Right to proper information
Ontario
English