UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) are the recipients of this year’s prestigious Bob Borch Human Rights Award, which the OFL presents at each convention to organizations or individuals who display an extraordinary commitment to furthering the rights of workers in Ontario.

“The tireless efforts of UFCW Canada and the AWA on behalf of agriculture workers is the amazing and untold story of the Ontario labour movement,” said OFL President Wayne Samuelson in presenting the Borch Award to Wayne Hanley, who serves both organizations as national president, on the third day of the provincial labour federation’s 2009 convention.

“This is a group of workers that play a fundamental role in our lives as food producers and most Ontarians don’t even know they exist. UFCW Canada and the AWA are the organizations that are finding the resources to fight for the respect and dignity of one our province’s most important and exploited labour forces,” said Samuelson.

Of the 100,000-plus agriculture workers in Ontario, 30,000 are migrant labourers who come to Ontario every season as part of a difficult and lonely effort to earn a living for themselves and their families. Because of their precarious status, migrant farm workers often find themselves exploited by unscrupulous employers. In cooperation with the AWA, UFCW Canada operates four support centres in Ontario to help migrant workers face the enormous cultural and systemic challenges waiting for them in Canada.

“It’s an honour to accept this award on behalf of all the people who have given so much of themselves to this campaign over the past 15 years,” said Hanley, flanked by several long-time activists who have helped to make the support centre program possible.

“Because of their commitment to doing the right thing for the right reasons, health and safety protections for farm workers are now guaranteed under the law, and the days of Ontario denying the basic labour rights of agriculture workers are rapidly becoming part of a very shameful past.

“What we need are over 30,000 of these awards — one for every migrant farm worker who comes to Canada every year. They part with their loved ones each year to work in our fields and produce our food. They are the real heroes, their courage inspires our efforts, and this award belongs to all of them.”

Bob Borch, equity, Human rights, racialized, UFCW, unions, visible minority, Wayne Hanley, workers of colour