A Filipino peasant leader and activist was in Langley recently to meet with local seasonal migrant farm workers to talk about workers rights and their experiences. Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos was raised as a peasant farmer and has been an activist for farm workers in the Philippines for decades. He visited Langley’s St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on May 17, in an event organized by a number of groups, including the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), the non-profit migrant farm workers organization
Fuerza Migrante, and the Diocese of New Westminster of the Anglican Church. Meeting with Ramos were some of the temporary foreign workers who keep Langley farms operating, many of them from Mexico. Every year Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), a part of the temporary foreign workers program, sees around 30,000 people come to Canada to work on farms for part of the year. According to the ICHRP, Ramos and local farm workers talked about shared struggles, land dispossession, labour migration, and other issues. The
local farm workers also talked about what they brought with them from home to Canada, including winter clothing, spices, toys, and family photographs. “Many of us arrived carrying not only our belongings, but our determination to move forward for our families,” said one Mexican seasonal farm worker. Ramos shared information about the issues peasants in the Philippines face, including the growing influence of multinational agribusiness. “We believe there are common issues and concerns that unite us,” said Ramos. “Land, food, decent wages, and dignity are
struggles shared across borders. International solidarity is important to pursue our common interests.”
Langley, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Danilo Ka Daning Ramos, peasant farmer, farm workers, seasonal migrant farm workers, Mexico, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, ICHRP, Fuerza Migrante, Diocese of New Westminster, Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, SAWP, workers rights, labour migration, land dispossession, multinational agribusiness, international solidarity
So this is like… farm workers talking politics at church? okay.
Wait I thought seasonal workers just come here to pick fruit and then leave. But now it’s “land dispossession” and multinational agribusiness?? Feels like a stretch. Churches should keep it simple.
Not gonna lie, I’m confused. If they’re from Mexico working in Langley, why are we hearing about Philippines peasants? Like are they trying to bring the Philippines situation over here too? Also SAWP is government so shouldn’t they already be protected?
Good for them meeting at St. Andrew’s but I don’t know why they’re saying “decent wages” like that isn’t already a thing. My cousin worked a harvest job once and said it was fine, so I’m not sure. Winter clothing, spices, toys, family photos… that part made me sad though, like they’re really separated from home. Anyway, multinational agribusiness sounds scary but I bet it’s just regular companies messing around.