Workers unionize at Lufa Farms greenhouse in Laval

The new Local 501 of the Travailleurs unis de l'alimentation et du commerce, affiliated with the FTQ, encompasses about 15 employees who work in the Laval greenhouse, in maintenance or harvesting. But the union says it has ambitions to unionize other workplaces.

Lufa Farms has four greenhouses in the Montreal area, with three others in Ahuntsic, Anjou and St-Laurent. It grows produce on building rooftops and has formed partnerships with local producers.

Issues at the forefront for the new union include workplace health and safety, internal promotions based on seniority, salaries and having a say in the company, said Sami Dellah, a union representative. He said the pandemic and buy local campaigns have increased demand for local agricultural products.

"When we see a large enterprise put a lot of money into growth, we say, as workers: the family atmosphere we had, maybe we have to rethink that."

Lufa Farms did not want to comment on the unionization, but it issued a statement reiterating its commitment to the community:

"Since our founding, our employees and the community have always been at the heart of our mission to build a sustainable and local food system. This will never change! We have the chance to count on a competent and engaged team in the success of Lufa Farms and for us it's a great source of pride."

Source: Montreal Gazette

Photo: Lauren Rathmell, founding member of Lufa Farms, walks through tomato plants at the Lufa Farms greenhouse in Laval, north of Montreal in 2013. PHOTO BY DARIO AYALA /Montreal Gazette files

Source: Montreal Gazette