Latest news with #UFCW
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Union says lawsuit over federal pesticide safety rules aims to protect agricultural workers
A union representing agricultural workers across the country says the information workers get when handling pesticides is insufficient. It is suing the federal government with the aim of forcing it to enforce rules, it says, already exist. "It's high time for the federal government to do what it's already committed to do and that's what this case is about," Derek Johnstone of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) said. "It's also another opportunity for us as Canadians to look at something as basic a food worker knowing what he or she or they are handling and not having that information, so how did we get here?" The union held an information session about safety sheets in Leamington, Ont., on Sunday. Thousands of workers come from countries such as Mexico and Guatemala to work in greenhouses in the southwestern Ontario community each year. The UFCW launched its lawsuit against the federal government in federal court last week. It argues that safety information including "material safety data sheets" are a condition of registering pest control products and that those sheets must be provided to workplaces that use the products. The application by the union states that the government has taken the "unreasonable position that the provision of material safety data sheets to workplaces is voluntary" and that by not enforcing the requirement, it is failing to protect agricultural workers. "It's unfortunate that the government has taken to using the term voluntary when it comes to providing basic information about chemicals and pesticides that workers handle," Johnstone said. "This is not a choice. This is not a recommendation by government. This is a right enshrined in health and safety law. The right to know is the first step when it comes to a worker's health and safety rights." Health Canada refused comment to the CBC on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation. Sean O'Shea of Ecojustice, an environmental law charity whose lawyers are listed on the application, says data sheets provide information about possible risks of pest control products and protective measures one should take when using them. "It might require you to wear (personal protective equipment) to discard of any clothes you're wearing before you return to your home," he said. "It might say that it shouldn't be mixed with another chemical or another pesticide because it's not just the use of one pesticide. The problem is the use of several pesticides can have cumulative effects when chemicals are mixed together."
CTV News
a day ago
- Health
- CTV News
Union sues Health Canada over alleged failure to protect agriculture workers
Migrant workers gathered on Sunday in Leamington to learn about a new lawsuit filed against Health Canada. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) A new lawsuit filed against Health Canada alleges the agency has unlawfully failed to protect agricultural workers from the harms of pesticides. Complainant United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW) alleges Health Canada's reported failure to enforce safety data sheets for pesticides leaves workers unable to protect themselves from hazardous materials. Migrant workers sue Health Canada Leamington June 2025 The UFCW has launched a lawsuit against Health Canada, alleging they are failing to ensure workers are informed about the pesticides they are using. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) On Sunday afternoon, the UFCW held workshops in Leamington to inform workers of the lawsuit. Due to the heavy presence of farming and greenhouse businesses, the region is known to have a higher population of migrant workers. 'Look, the fact of the matter is that what we're calling on the government to do are obligations,' said Derek Johnstone, special assistant to the president of the UFCW. Johnstone said the issue has plagued workers in Leamington for years and exists in the agriculture sector across Canada. Through the safety data sheets, workers can better understand how to safely use pesticides and respond to any prolonged exposure and side effects. Under the federal Pest Control Products Act, the sheets must be provided at workplaces. 'We are denying them something as basic, as fundamental as knowing what chemicals they're handling,' Johnstone said. One worker agreed to speak with CTV News on the basis of anonymity, out of fear using their name would result in disciplinary action by her employer. Migrant workers sue Health Canada Leamington June 2025 A farm worker in Leamington agreed to speak to CTV News anonymously out of fear her employer would be punished by their employer for speaking out. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Originally from Mexico, the farm worker in Leamington said there's no trust with employers, and they worry that asking about the harms of pesticides will be seen as complaining. She said the company does not provide any training or information on how to use pesticides. 'We desperately need this information because if we are exposed to it and we are poisoned, we don't know what to do about it,' the worker said through a translator. The worker added working in Canada is the best opportunity they have to support their family. A request for comment was denied by Health Canada because the litigation is pending. Sean O'Shea, a government relations and campaign specialist for Ecojustice, told CTV News the lawsuit is seeking a court ruling to ensure Health Canada fulfills its responsibility. 'They're being exposed to dangerous pesticides that a lot of workers in other industries would be protected from, and that is not fair, it's not legal,' O'Shea said. O'Shea added they will now await the federal government's response to determine their next steps.
CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
Union says lawsuit over federal pesticide safety rules aims to protect agricultural workers
Social Sharing A union representing agricultural workers across the country says the information workers get when handling pesticides is insufficient. It is suing the federal government with the aim of forcing it to enforce rules, it says, already exist. "It's high time for the federal government to do what it's already committed to do and that's what this case is about," Derek Johnstone of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) said. "It's also another opportunity for us as Canadians to look at something as basic a food worker knowing what he or she or they are handling and not having that information, so how did we get here?" The union held an information session about safety sheets in Leamington, Ont., on Sunday. Thousands of workers come from countries such as Mexico and Guatemala to work in greenhouses in the southwestern Ontario community each year. The UFCW launched its lawsuit against the federal government in federal court last week. It argues that safety information including "material safety data sheets" are a condition of registering pest control products and that those sheets must be provided to workplaces that use the products. The application by the union states that the government has taken the "unreasonable position that the provision of material safety data sheets to workplaces is voluntary" and that by not enforcing the requirement, it is failing to protect agricultural workers. "It's unfortunate that the government has taken to using the term voluntary when it comes to providing basic information about chemicals and pesticides that workers handle," Johnstone said. "This is not a choice. This is not a recommendation by government. This is a right enshrined in health and safety law. The right to know is the first step when it comes to a worker's health and safety rights." Health Canada refused comment to the CBC on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation. Sean O'Shea of Ecojustice, an environmental law charity whose lawyers are listed on the application, says data sheets provide information about possible risks of pest control products and protective measures one should take when using them. "It might require you to wear (personal protective equipment) to discard of any clothes you're wearing before you return to your home," he said. "It might say that it shouldn't be mixed with another chemical or another pesticide because it's not just the use of one pesticide. The problem is the use of several pesticides can have cumulative effects when chemicals are mixed together."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington grocery workers may strike following union vote
Jun. 6—The union that represents about 56,000 mostly grocery and health workers across Washington, North Idaho and northeastern Oregon voted Thursday night to authorize a strike of employees working at grocery stores owned by Albertsons and Kroger. The vote, however, simply authorizes a strike and does not immediately call for one. It does not involve workers of Rosauers, Safeway, Albertsons and Fred Meyer in the Spokane area because they authorized a contract that does not expire until next year. Safeway is owned by Albertsons, and Fred Meyer is owned by Kroger. Tom Geiger, special projects director for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, or UFCW, said the vote Thursday night mostly involves workers at Albertsons and Kroger stores in Western Washington. "We authorized a strike to fight for better wages, better staffing, and a fully funded health care plan so that we can deliver the kind of service our customers deserve," Vickie Logerstedt, a cashier at Redmond Ridge QFC, said in a news release. "We have been more than patient for months, but these companies have offered nothing but crumbs and mealy language. Time has run out." Efforts to reach the corporate offices of Albertsons, which is based in Boise, and Kroger, based in Cincinnati, were not immediately successful on Friday. The strike-authorization vote follows two major events: The UFCW launched major opposition to the now-failed merger attempt between Albertsons and Kroger, and ongoing contract negotiations for workers in Western Washington, Colorado and California, Geiger said. A federal judge in Oregon and a Washington state judge ruled against the merger in December . The proposal would have been the largest merger of grocery store giants. Had it gone through, it would have led to the loss of Safeway stores on the South Hill and Spokane Valley, based on a previously released list of store sales. The two grocery companies first announced merger plans in 2022 to get bigger to take on retail competitors Amazon and Walmart. That proposal spawned lawsuits from the attorneys general of Washington and Colorado, and the Federal Trade Commission filed a federal suit in Oregon. All sought to block the deal over concerns that it would reduce customer choices and bargaining positions of employees across the country. Then in January, the UFCW began negotiating new contracts for workers of stores in Western Washington for a contract that expired in the first week of May. Geiger said the union and grocery stores agreed to extend the terms of the former contract during negotiations. But talks stalled after the company's offer, said Rich Smith, communications director for the UFCW. "The wages were insulting; staffing is a core issue, and right now they are underfunding the health care," Smith said. Based on that offer, the union put two questions to its membership, Geiger said: whether workers approved the offer, and authorized a strike. Some "97% rejected the offer and voted to authorize the strike," Geiger said. "We feel it is a pretty clear message. Often, they have boiler-plate statements that say, 'We believe the best way to reach a good agreement is at the bargaining table.' We agree. "But we've been at the bargaining table for five months telling the employers what is needed, and they haven't been good listeners." Despite the vote to authorize a strike, the extension of the former contract calls for a 72-hour notice before the workers can begin one, Geiger said. The parties are scheduled to resume talks on a potential new contract. "Hopefully, we'll see something change up next week," Geiger said. Fred Meyer president Todd Kammeyer said in a news release that his company is committed to reaching a balanced and fair agreement with his workers. "A strike at this stage is an unnecessary and disruptive action — especially given the meaningful wage increases and industry-leading healthcare we're offering at the bargaining table," Kammeyer said in the release. "We remain committed to continuing negotiations in good faith and urge union leadership to do the same." While the negotiations are separate, Albertsons workers in Colorado voted on Thursday night to authorize a strike. California worker votes for the strike are continuing. All told, if all the UFCW workers do decide to walk out, it could affect up to 100,000 employees across the western U.S. Joe Mizrahi, secretary-treasurer of UFCW local 3000, the largest private-sector union in Washington, said the support of the strike-authorization votes should serve as a wake-up call.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Union for Washington grocery workers authorizes strike
Jun. 6—The union that represents about 56,000 mostly grocery and health workers across Washington, North Idaho and northeastern Oregon voted Thursday night to authorize a strike of employees working at grocery stores owned by Albertsons and Kroger. However, the vote simply authorizes a strike and does not immediately call for one. And, it does not involve workers of Rosauers, Safeway, Albertsons and Fred Meyer in the Spokane area because they authorized a contract that does not expire until next year. Safeway is owned by Albertsons and Fred Meyer is owned by Kroger. Tom Geiger, special projects director for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, or UFCW, said the vote Thursday night mostly involves workers Albertsons and Kroger stores in Western Washington . "We authorized a strike to fight for better wages, better staffing, and a fully funded healthcare plan so that we can deliver the kind of service our customers deserve," Vickie Logerstedt, a cashier at Redmond Ridge QFC, said in a news release. "We have been more than patient for months, but these companies have offered nothing but crumbs and mealy language. Time has run out." Efforts to reach the corporate offices of Albertsons, which is based in Boise, and Kroger, based in Cincinnati, were not immediately successful on Friday. The strike-authorization vote follows two major events: The UFCW launched major opposition to the now failed merger attempt between Albertsons and Kroger, and ongoing contract negotiations for workers in Western Washington, Colorado and California, Geiger said. A federal judge in Oregon and a Washington state judge ruled against the merger in December 2024, The proposal would have been the largest merger of grocery store giants. Had the merger gone through, it would have led to the loss of Safeway stores on the South Hill and Spokane Valley, based on a previously released list of store sales. The two grocery companies first announced in 2022 merger plans to get bigger to take on retail competitors Amazon and Walmart. That proposed merger spawned lawsuits from the attorneys general of Washington and Colorado, and the Federal Trade Commission filed a federal suit in Oregon. All sought to block the deal over concerns that it would reduce customer choices and bargaining positions of employees across the country. Then in January , the UFCW began negotiating new contracts for workers of stores in Western Washington for a contract that eventually expired in the first week of May. Geiger said both parties, the union and grocery stores, agreed to extend the terms of the former contract during negotiations. But talks stalled after the company's offer, said Rich Smith, communications director for the UFCW. "The wages were insulting, staffing is a core issue and right now they are underfunding the health care," Smith said. Based on that offer, the union put two questions to its membership, Geiger said. It asked workers whether they approve the offer, and, secondly, do you authorize a strike. Some "97% rejected the offer and voted to authorize the strike," Geiger said. "We feel it is a pretty clear message. Often, they have boiler-plate statements that say 'We believe the best way to reach a good agreement is at the bargaining table.' We agree. "But, we've been at the bargaining table for five months telling the employers what is needed," he continued, "and they haven't been good listeners." Despite the vote to authorize a strike, the extension of the former contract calls for a 72-hour notice before the workers can begin a strike, Geiger said. The parties are scheduled to resume talks on a potential new contract on June 12, 13. "Hopefully, we'll see something change up next week," Geiger said. Fred Meyer president Todd Kammeyer said in a news release that his company is committed to reaching a balanced and fair agreement with his workers. "A strike at this stage is an unnecessary and disruptive action — especially given the meaningful wage increases and industry-leading healthcare we're offering at the bargaining table," Kammeyer said in the release. "We remain committed to continuing negotiations in good faith and urge union leadership to do the same." While the negotiations are separate, Albertsons workers in Colorado voted on Thursday night to authorize a strike. And California worker votes for the strike are continuing. All told, if all the UFCW workers do decide to walk out, it could affect up to 100,000 workers across the western U.S. Joe Mizrahi, secretary-treasurer of UFCW local 3000, the largest private-sector union in Washington, said the support of the strike-authorization votes should serve as a wake-up call.
