As emailed by Jojo Taduran 

Various mass organizations affiliated with Migrante-Ontario and Bayan Canada linked arms with thousands of workers and union members during the annual Labour Day Parade on Monday. 

Members of Filipino Migrant Workers’ Movement [FMWM], Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie [PMB], Migrante Youth, Gabriela, and Independent Workers’ Association [IWA] marched from University Avenue through downtown streets to CNE in the company of community allies belonging to the May First Movement [M1M].

“This is our way of expressing solidarity with fellow workers who have been under attack because of this so-called financial crisis,” said Wilma Delo, chairperson of PMB, a group of caregivers in Barrie, Ontario.     

In a statement released earlier, Migrante-Ontario says that “some caregivers have [also] been trapped in employment uncertainty due to this economic mess.  When an employer of a caregiver got laidoff, the caregiver would probably be asked to leave the house to look for another employer.”

“It’s very important for us migrant workers to be steadfast…linking arms, walking side by side with fellow workers in times of economic difficulty,” said Jonathan Canchela, chairperson of FMWM.  “Our collective strength would certainly make us strong as we continue to struggle for our rights and welfare.”        

Migrante-Ontario further says in a statement that “it is tragic - and ironic indeed - that the workers who produce the wealth of every nation endure the worst impact of this economic recession.  And it is more tragic to see while workers and their families experience the worst, big corporations and companies have been given ‘stimulus plans’ by governments.”       

Delo said that while she was marching during the parade, her mind was occupied by thoughts of fellow caregivers who still suffer from the sad conditions, which further aggravated by this current economic downturn, under the Live-in Caregiver Program.

“There are a lot of caregivers out there enduring the terrible conditions.  But, how many more months or years we should wait to see the implementation of any fundamental changes in the LCP?” 

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Migrante-Ontario member organizations:

Filipino Migrant Workers' Movement; AWARE; Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture (PATAC); Damayan Migrant Education and Resource Center; Migrante Youth; Migrant Workers and Family Resource Center - Hamilton; Pilipinong Migrante sa Canada (PMSC) - Ottawa; Pilipinong Migrante sa Barrie (PMB) – Barrie

For more info on Migrante-Ontario: migrante.ontario@gmail.com