About 400 members of UFCW Local 1518 who are employed as agricultural workers at Highline Mushrooms in Abbotsford, B.C., ratified their first union contract on December 17 and 18. These workers joined UFCW Local 1518 last June, becoming the largest group of farmworkers to unionize in Canada.
The new contract, which was ratified by 98 percent of the members, will bring life-changing improvements to hundreds of temporary foreign workers.
The new contract includes:
- Total wage raises of 4.55 percent by June 2025, plus a 50¢ hourly bonus for late working for many employees.
- A $500 signing bonus for all employees.
- Support for temporary foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in Canada, including a $2,000 payment towards application and legal costs.
- Job security and recall rights, which will ensure temporary foreign workers are called back for future contracts based on seniority.
- A joint management-worker committee to oversee worker housing and address housing conditions.
- Suitable clothing for outdoor work, paid for by the employer.
“These temporary foreign workers secured a historic first contract that includes life-changing provisions and raises the bar for the agricultural industry in British Columbia,” said UFCW Local 1518 President Patrick Johnson.
“What’s truly remarkable is that these members come from all corners of the world, speaking multiple languages, and have been united by their shared determination to win the respect and treatment they deserve,” Johnson added. “Non-union migrant agricultural workers often endure long hours, difficult conditions, and low wages. This monumental win highlights why joining a union is the best way workers can secure better living standards, gain dignity at work, and hold their industries accountable to the highest standards.”