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Over $210,000 was collected to support the workers who were killed or injured and their families in the Hampstead accident in February 2012.
Toronto (11 June 2012) - On June 8, the widow of one of the victims of the horrific collision near Hampstead, Ontario will be the next recipient from a nation-wide fund setup to support and assist the families of the workers killed or injured in the two-vehicle crash on February 6.
In the wake of the accident, the Migrant Workers Family Support Fund has raised over $210,000 through the generosity of individuals and organizations across Canada. One hundred per cent of the monies collected will be distributed in 14 equal portions to the individuals or families of the 14 workers who were killed or injured in the Hampstead tragedy.
Samaria Carolina Enamorado, widow of the late Nicaraguan worker Juan Castillo, will receive her own share of the Migrant Workers Family Support Fund. UFCW Canada General Counsel and Director of Human Rights Naveen Mehta will present the cheque on behalf of UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley. Juan Carranza of the Carranza LLP law firm will also be on hand for the presentation. Carranza LLP was instrumental in organizing a fundraising event that raised over $10,000 which was then added to the Migrant Workers Family Support Fund. Carranza LLP then matched the fundraising total with an additional donation of $10,000.
The first disbursements of the fund took place on May 9, 2012, in London, Ontario to Javier Alba Medina and Juan Jose Ariza. Medina and Ariza are two of the three survivors of the accident. UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley personally presented the cheques to Medina and Ariza. The two men are currently recovering from their injuries in a London, Ontario facility.
The Migrant Workers Family Support Fund is a special assistance fund setup by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) to assist the families of the workers killed or injured on February 6, when a van transporting 13 migrant agriculture workers collided with a truck near Hampstead, Ontario.
More information:
UFCW Migrant Worker Support Fund
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE