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The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) was proud to sponsor, alongside CREW-CSN and the Montreal Amazon Workers Union in Laval, co-organize with Cinema Politica the Montreal Premiere of Union an award-winning documentary on the historic struggle of Amazon workers at JFK 8 in Staten Island, in 2022. The night was a full house with over 200 in audience for the premiere was followed by a lively exchange with film co-director Steven... Read more →
Come and organize with the women's committee of the CTTI immigrant workers' center. You are not alone; we can help you.
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In a historic win for workers' rights, Quebec’s Superior Court has approved a lawsuit exposing Canada’s exploitative system of closed work permits. Temporary foreign workers, trapped under contracts with specific employers, are fighting back against conditions that trample on their most basic rights. Led by the Association for the Rights of Domestic and Agricultural Workers, the case alleges rampant violations of the Charter, including widespread abuse, underpayment, and harassment. This... Read more →
The Quebec Labour Tribunal has ruled in favor of the union at Amazon's Lachine distribution centre, ordering Amazon to pay $30,000 in damages for obstructing union efforts in May 2023. The tribunal found that Amazon's anti-union messages, spread throughout the workplace, violated workers' rights under Quebec Labour Code. This decision is a significant win for our right to organize and protect our working conditions. Remember, no matter how big the... Read more →
On July 23, 2024, a historic milestone was reached for the employees of the Amazon DXT4 warehouse in Laval, Quebec. The negotiation committee of the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs d'Amazon Laval–CSN presented a proposal for the first collective agreement to the employees. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the unionization efforts within the company. The employees of the Laval warehouse voted in favor of unionization in May 2024,... Read more →
In response to the increase in workplace accidents involving foreign workers, the Quebec government has recently announced additional funding to improve their safety at work. This initiative aims to enhance preventive measures and provide increased support to these vulnerable workers. According to statistics, the number of foreign workers injured on the job is constantly increasing. In response, Quebec is seeking solutions to improve the working conditions of these temporary employees,... Read more →
As Prime Day 2024 approaches, scheduled for July 16 and 17, Amazon workers in Montreal are raising the alarm about their working conditions and safety. While this massive sales event promises savings and exclusive deals for Prime members, warehouse employees feel increased pressure and growing concerns for their health and safety. According to a Global News article, workers in Montreal are worried about the heightened demands imposed by their employers... Read more →
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), essential for addressing labor shortages, has significant human rights shortcomings. A recent report by Le Devoir highlights the urgent need to reform this program to prioritize human rights. Working Conditions and Workers' Rights Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) often face poor working conditions, including excessive hours, low wages, and lack of healthcare access. Their precarious status makes them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, with a... Read more →
Our annual Mayworks Festival celebrates our yearly victories for our various campaigns lead by our workers councils and committees across Quebec. This year we shared the cultural stage with the International Migrants Alliance and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. We started the evening with presentations from our various workers' committees, such as the women's committee, the Tresor and Newrest former workers committee, the warehouse workers committee,... Read more →
In a recent interview, Jill Hanley, Vice President of the Montreal-based Immigrant Workers Centre, shed light on the challenges faced by migrant workers in Canada, particularly in light of the country's evolving policies regarding temporary foreign workers. As Canada prepares to implement new rules aimed at scaling back temporary foreign workers, Hanley underscores the importance of understanding the human impact of such decisions. Hanley's work brings her face-to-face with... Read more →
Today, Amazon workers in Laval, Quebec, ignite a revolutionary spark as they embark on the journey to form the first union in a Canadian Amazon warehouse. The Montreal Amazon Workers Union (MAWU-CSN) presents evidence to the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT), revealing a majority of DXT4 warehouse employees have signed union cards. In the face of exploitation and surveillance, workers unite against unjust wages, precarious contracts, and unsafe conditions. Their... Read more →
*Le français suit. In collaboration with Fernwood Publishing, Solidarity across borders and the Immigrant Worker Centre (IWC), the Social Justice Centre presents a book panel on “Essential Work, Disposable Workers” by Mostafa Henaway at the SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation on Feb 7 from 6-8 pm. Mostafa Henaway is a former graduate fellow of the Social Justice Centre, a researcher, and a long-time community organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal, where he has been... Read more →
In an exclusive study, researchers shed light on the challenging working conditions within the Montreal warehouses of Dollarama and Amazon. This report, conducted by the Interuniversity and Interdisciplinary Research Group on Employment, Poverty, and Social Protection (GIREPS), the Center for Immigrant Workers (CTTI), and the Association of Agency Workers (ATTAP), presents a disconcerting portrayal of the labor landscape in these major retail warehouses. You can read this coverage here: Dollarama... Read more →
Over recent years, the warehousing sector has experienced significant growth, and the trend was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly thanks to the rise of e-commerce. Faced with this reality, the Groupe interuniversitaire et interdisciplinaire de recherche sur l'emploi, la pauvreté et la protection sociale (GIREPS), the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI) and the Temporary Agency Workers Association (TAWA-ATTAP) launched a research project in January 2022 to examine the employment,... Read more →
Front Commun, Representing Over 400,000 Workers, Declares Strike from Dec. 8-14 By Taqwa Mohamed-Mahdi In a show of collective strength, hundreds of thousands of public sector workers in Quebec are gearing up for a week-long strike in December as contract negotiations with the provincial government hit an impasse. The Front Commun, a coalition of four major public sector unions representing around 420,000 members in health, education, and social services, made... Read more →
A group of foreign workers in Montreal, lured under false promises, now faces an uphill battle in obtaining work permits. Initially assured of a fast-tracked process by the federal Immigration Department, only seven out of a hundred applications were approved, prompting Ottawa to rescind its offer last week. Now, these workers are left in limbo, required to navigate a complex application process with uncertain outcomes. The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI)... Read more →
The play, Mera Laung Gwacha, was performed in Park Extension’s William Hingston Community Centre on the 4th of November, 2023. To promote the play, we advertised around the neighborhood as well as regularly on the radio and did a half-hour interview on the local radio station, Humsafar. Our team of mostly amateur actors practiced for months to prepare, and the play was a resounding success. The actors were phenomenal in... Read more →
Some thirty Quebec community and labor organizations mobilized in Montreal, Quebec City and Rimouski on Saturday to call for a program to regularize undocumented migrants. The 38 organizations are calling for the "immediate" implementation of an "inclusive" program to regularize undocumented migrants, as well as an end to the deportation and detention of migrants who have no immigration status. Read event reports (in French): Trudeau doit tenir sa promesse»: des... Read more →
Two years of workplace health and safety demolition Despite the interim regime that has been in force for 18 months, what we are seeing on the ground in workplaces is that the implementation of this reform is tedious ultimately allowing for the enforcement of the minimal obligations stipulalted for by the law - David Bergeron-Cyr On the occasion of the second anniversary of the implementation of the Loi modernisant le... Read more →
The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) and a group of migrant workers will discuss the situation thatgave rise to a class action lawsuit that was filed this morning. The IWC and the workers aresuing a placement agency operating under the name Trésor and its client company Newrest, amultinational that provides catering services to major airlines at the Pierre Elliott TrudeauAirport. This lawsuit has been filed by the law firm Trudel Johnston... Read more →
The Amazon Worker Committee, in collaboration with the CSN union, presents the third edition of the monthly Amazon workers newspaper ''Our Voice''. A newspaper by Amazon workers for Amazon workers. Each edition provides comprehensive coverage of the latest developments across Amazon warehouses in the Montreal region. The August edition dwelves in to the following topics: Labour Minister visits Yul5 : Minister of Labour misled by Amazon management Amazon silences workers:... Read more →
Download: MANDATORY EXTRA TIME Brochure By Jasper Jones As its title implies, Mandatory Extra Time, or mandatory overtime, in short, leaves workers no room for manoeuver. I have worked for Amazon for over six months in several locations in Montreal . Now, I know for a fact that safety comes last at Amazon, despite management’s claims.
Download the New Flyer! The Labor Critic for Québec solidaire Alexandre Leduc has called for an investigation into the working conditions at Amazon warehouses in Quebec. Leduc urged the Minister of Labour to address the concerns of Amazon workers, emphasizing that the company's work methods do not comply with Quebec labour laws. He expressed serious concerns about health and safety standards, referring to the warehouses as "wound factories. ... Read more →
Alexandre Leduc Urges Minister of Labour to Address Concerns Raised by Amazon Workers, Delegation Meets in Parliament At National Assembly on Thursday in Quebec city, Alexandre Leduc, the Labor Critic for the Second Opposition Group, Québec solidaire; has addressed, the ongoing concerns surrounding the working conditions at Amazon warehouses in Quebec. Leduc called upon the Minister of Labour, Jean Boulet, to take immediate action and launch an investigation into the... Read more →
"Ji Jasi Apki Marzihat" captivates audiences with a compelling monologue on the mistreatment of women in Indian society The Montreal International Anarchist Theatre Festival recently hosted a thought-provoking play produced by the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CT) that shed light on the challenges faced by women and emphasized the importance of empowerment. Titled "Ji Jasi Apki Marzihat," directed and act by Nitu Sharma and written by Nadira Zahir Babber, captivated audiences... Read more →
Montreal Amazon’s Workers Committee The Amazon warehouse workers committee brings together former and current Amazon workers, with the support of the Immigrant Workers Centre to create a space for workers to discuss the range of issues workers face. Whether it be health and safety, basic labour rights and wages, or problems related to unfair treatment by managers. The committee supports workers' efforts to file complaints at the CNESST, for their... Read more →
The TAWA Women's Committee aims to shed light on the specific issues that women with precarious immigration status face in the workplace. The Committee is fighting for the regularization of immigration status, access to healthcare, and access to justice for all. Origins of the TAWA Women's Committee In 2014, the Temporary Agency Workers Association (TAWA) established the Leadership Development for Women Factory Agency Workers which, as the name suggests,... Read more →
At Concordia University, a diverse group came together to address the pressing issues of precarious labor and migrant justice in Quebec. Participated in the event, members from the women's committee of the IWC, along with members and workers from the Amazon committee and the South Asian committee of the IWC. They were joined by a representative of the Federation of Commerce of the CSN . The workshop was organized by... Read more →
This week, the voices of Amazon workers resonated powerfully at the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC-CTI), as they shared their stories with with two Quebec Members of National Assembly Gabriel Nadeau Dubois and Alexandre Leduc. The mission? To exert pressure on the government to hold Amazon accountable for respecting the fundamental rights of its workers. Their stories are our stories. Stories of hard work, resilience, and, unfortunately, stories of exploitation. This... Read more →
Yesterday marked a historic moment in the ongoing struggle for workers' rights, equality, and justice at Amazon warehouses in Montreal. Over one hundred attendees flooded the auditorium, their faces filled with hope, passion, and conviction, for the historical materialism conference in Montreal. It was a testament to the enduring spirit of our shared cause and the collective power we possess when we unite. Notable amongst the distinguished speakers was Alexandre... Read more →
By: Isaac Patroulis Lessig In January, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced new guidelines to shield migrant workers “who experience or witness workplace labor or civil rights violations” from deportation or a loss of work status. The protective measure marks a positive step towards the empowerment of migrant workers in the country and should be seen as a win for workers everywhere. Similar protections for immigrant workers... Read more →
On May 1st, in Montreal, we united in solidarity on the streets, to raise our voices against the escalating cost of living, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of our society. As inflation soars, the wealthiest individuals and corporations exploit the situation, amassing even greater profits at the expense of the working class. Many workers face the harsh reality of stagnant wages amidst skyrocketing prices for essential goods and... Read more →
Mission Statement We aim to create a framework of reflection and promotion of labour rights, as well as work towards improving working conditions for temporary placement agency workers regardless of their immigration status Objectives Outreach, raise consciousness, mobilize and help organize workers Identify, discuss and resolve problems at the workplace Educate about labour rights (workshops) Raise awareness about agency workers' situation among unions, employers and anyone having contact with them... Read more →
Our recent festival, on May 1 Labor Day was celebrating immigrant workers struggles organized by the IWC. The festival filled with music, songs, theatrical performances and video screenings, showcased the experiences of agricultural workers and highlighted the need for continued support and awareness. A report by Journal Métro underscores the vulnerability and precarious working conditions faced by migrant agricultural workers, emphasizing the significance of our work at IWC and the... Read more →
At the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC), our mission is to advocate for the rights and well-being of migrant workers, regardless of their status. A recent report by TVA Nouvelles high lights the urgent need for regularization and fair treatment of undocumented immigrants in Canada, emphasizing the importance of our work at IWC. The report shares the stories of undocumented immigrants living in precarious conditions and facing numerous challenges in their... Read more →
A recent report by Radio-Canada International, highlights the plight of undocumented female migrant workers in Canada and the importance of regularization for their well-being. The report, published on International Women's Day, shines a light on the struggles faced by female migrant workers who lack legal status in Canada. These women often endure exploitation, abuse, and discrimination, both in the workplace and in their everyday lives. The lack of legal status... Read more →
We are the Temporary Agency Workers Association’s (ATTAP) women’s committee, a group of immigrant women working in precarious conditions. We have come together to confront a shared problem: psychological harassment and sexual abuse in the workplace. Our committee was founded by the Immigrant Workers Center (IWC) in late 2018 with the mandate collectively addressing shared problems in the workplace that... Read more →
Download: Guide for Temporary Migrant Workers and Case Workers in Quebec The production of this material was financially supported by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur (MES) through the Fonds des services aux collectivités program. The production also received support from the Canada Research Chairs Program and funding from Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.
An open letter from the ATTAP Women's Committee - January 2021 Community groups have been saying it for almost a year now. Sanitary measures have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable or marginalized populations. Despite these denunciations from all sides, and while the Quebec Superior Court has just decreed the exemption of people experiencing homelessness from the curfew, the CAQ stubbornly maintains the curfew along with increased police surveillance... Read more →