UFCW Canada to Release Ground-Breaking Report on "Great Canadian Rip-Off" of SAWP Workers

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 12, 2014) - This Thursday, March 13, the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW Canada) will be releasing a new, ground-breaking research report entitled "The Great Canadian Rip-Off!" at a press conference to be held at 10:30 a.m. at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, Ontario.

The 40-page report highlights the injustice of the Harper Government's decision to curtail seasonal migrant farm workers' access to EI parental, maternity, and compassionate care benefits - also known as EI special benefits.

The report demonstrates that workers enrolled in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) are being denied full eligibility for EI special benefits despite the fact that they, along with their employers, pay an estimated $21.5 million annually in EI premiums and contribute $4.65 billion to the Canadian government and economy each year.

Speaking on behalf of UFCW Canada's 250,000 members, UFCW Canada's National President, Paul Meinema, along with the Official Opposition Critic on Employment and Social Development, Jinny Sims, will be calling on the federal government to end the Great Canadian Rip-Off of SAWP workers by restoring their full eligibility for EI special benefits.

Attending the press conference will be:

Paul Meinema, National President, UFCW Canada

Jinny Sims, Member of Parliament for Newton-North Delta and Official Opposition Critic for Employment and Social Development, New Democratic Party of Canada

Sadia Groguhé, Member of Parliament for Saint-Lambert and Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Employment and Social Development, New Democratic Party of Canada

Stan Raper, National Coordinator, Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA)

UFCW Canada is the country's leading and most progressive union, representing more than 250,000 union members across Canada. As a longtime advocate for farm workers' rights, UFCW Canada represents migrant and domestic agricultural workers at various locations in Quebec and British Columbia. In association with the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA), UFCW Canada also operates ten agricultural worker support centres across the country.

Paul Meinema, National President, UFCW Canada

Jinny Sims, Member of Parliament for Newton-North Delta and Official Opposition Critic for Employment and Social Development, New Democratic Party of Canada

Sadia Groguhé, Member of Parliament for Saint-Lambert and Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Employment and Social Development, New Democratic Party of Canada

Stan Raper, National Coordinator, Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA)

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION:

Full copies of the report can be obtained at the press conference, or by contacting the individuals listed below.