Bike caravan to support ex-farm worker starts in Montreal
A bike caravan travelled between Montreal and Saint-Rémi on Saturday morning to support a former farm worker from Guatemala.
Presse Canadienne
Former migrant worker Noe Arteaga Santos speaks to the media during a rally organized in his support by the "Justice for Noe Committee" in Montreal on Sunday, July 19, 2015. A human rights tribunal in 2014 found that Santos was fired by the tomato producer Savoura without just or sufficient cause. Savoura declared bankruptcy before a compensation agreement was reached though the label is still in existence. Dario Ayala / Montreal Gazette
The caravan's objective was to provide support to Noé Arteaga, a Guatemalan who is trying to make consumers aware of what is happening in many fields and greenhouses in Quebec.
In 2009, Arteaga was plunged into a nightmare. He was fired and deported to Guatemala because he had been the instigator of a short strike to insist that one of his colleagues receive medical attention.
After a long crusade, Mr. Arteaga won the case against his former employer, and his dismissal was recognized as unfair.
The catch: the company that had hired him declared bankruptcy and Arteaga could not receive compensation.
Arteaga did not want to have gone through the ordeal for nothing — instead, he wants to use his experience to raise awareness.
"I want to build awareness among those who buy products from here. Sometimes, they think it is better than what comes from elsewhere. If people knew about the conditions of many temporary immigrant workers, they would be angry," he said.
Mr. Arteaga believes that many Quebecers know nothing about the reality of these employees for a very simple reason.
"They are not aware because of the language barrier," he said.
The final destination of motorists and cyclists who joined it was Saint-Rémi, a small town about 25 kilometres south of Montreal, which will host the Fiesta of Cultures this weekend. The event is centred around parts of the region's foreign agricultural workers's cultures, including food, dance, music, history and art.
Mirabel residents gather to protest against Line 9B pipeline tests NDP promise positivity in the face of partisan attacks
Quebec launches campaign to recruit teachers from other provinces, countries
Your brain loves music: Montreal documentary shows healing power of song
Baie-D'Urfé sound wall construction planned for 2021