…Agricultural workers at four Highline Mushrooms factory farms in British Columbia have applied to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada. Highline Mushrooms is one of Canada’s biggest mushroom producers and is owned by transnational agrifood giant Fyffes.

The victory reflects Highline Mushroom workers’ drive and determination to improve their working conditions, representing the first group of migrant agricultural workers in Canada to collectively exercise their fundamental right to join a union in many years.

Agricultural workers are some of the most vulnerable workers in Canada, unprotected while working for transnational agrifood conglomerates worth billions. The Canadian mushroom industry alone earns over $650 million annually… The victory at Highline Mushrooms farms is a major step forward to changing the industry, as workers assert their rights and demand that their voices are heard…

“Congratulations to Highline Mushrooms workers for their courage and determination in asserting their rights,” says Patrick Johnson, President of UFCW 1518…

Highline Mushrooms’ parent company Fyffes has pledged to defend human and labour rights in its business principles, including core promises about respecting the fundamental labour rights of workers based on freedom of association as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO)…