Mexican officials refused to allow a perceived union sympathizer to return to B.C. [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Mexican officials refused to allow a perceived union sympathizer to return to B.C.

Labour Relations Board found Mexican government improperly interfered in union vote

By Tara Carman, Vancouver Sun March 28, 2014 8:51 PM

Victor Robles had worked on the same farm in Mission for six seasons. Each year, when he returned to Mexico, he applied to come back the next year and his employer requested him by name. He thought the 2011 season would be no different.

But in late January, with his employment contract and plane ticket to Vancouver in hand, he was told to report to the Mexican Ministry of Labour, which selects workers for Canada’s Seasonal Agricultrual Worker Program. There, he was informed that a person with his name had been caught in the United States and for this reason Canada was refusing to issue him a visa.

Several days later, after his flight had departed, Robles returned to the government office, where a receptionist looked up his file and told him he was blocked from returning to Canada because there was concern about his union involvement.

Mexican officials, however, stuck to the story that there was a problem with the Canadian visa. Robles did not return to B.C. that year and several months later went to work on a farm in Quebec.

More:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mexican+officials+refused+allow+perceived+union+sympathizer+return/9675268/story.html#ixzz2xKTnhLJZ