Union des producteurs agricoles
Encyclopedia
The Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) is an agricultural trade union
representing producers in the Canadian
province of Quebec
. Originally a Catholic union called the Union catholique des cultivateurs (UCC), it shed its denominational character as a result of the Quiet Revolution
and has existed in its current form since 1972.
Rural electrification was one of the union's foremost goals in its early years (it is estimated that only ten per cent of Quebec farms had electricity in 1930). It also fought for agricultural credit and collective contracts.
Since 1972, the UPA has been accredited as the only official farmer's union in Quebec. A 2008 report to the Quebec cabinet recommended changing this system and offering producers a free affiliation vote every five years. UPA president Christian Lacasse rejected this proposal, saying that Quebec does not have enough farmers for several different organizations. He also noted that ninety-four per cent of Quebec farmers belong to the organization.
The UPA and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
both supported the Quebec-Ontario Trade and Cooperation Agreement of 2009.
As of 2010, the union represents forty-three thousand agricultural producers in Quebec.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
representing producers in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Originally a Catholic union called the Union catholique des cultivateurs (UCC), it shed its denominational character as a result of the Quiet Revolution
Quiet Revolution
The Quiet Revolution was the 1960s period of intense change in Quebec, Canada, characterized by the rapid and effective secularization of society, the creation of a welfare state and a re-alignment of politics into federalist and separatist factions...
and has existed in its current form since 1972.
Rural electrification was one of the union's foremost goals in its early years (it is estimated that only ten per cent of Quebec farms had electricity in 1930). It also fought for agricultural credit and collective contracts.
Since 1972, the UPA has been accredited as the only official farmer's union in Quebec. A 2008 report to the Quebec cabinet recommended changing this system and offering producers a free affiliation vote every five years. UPA president Christian Lacasse rejected this proposal, saying that Quebec does not have enough farmers for several different organizations. He also noted that ninety-four per cent of Quebec farmers belong to the organization.
The UPA and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is a general farm organization established in 1936 and headquartered in Guelph, Ontario. The OFA comprises 52 county farm organizations from across the province. Bette Jean Crews was acclaimed OFA President at the 2008 Annual General Meeting, held in Toronto,...
both supported the Quebec-Ontario Trade and Cooperation Agreement of 2009.
As of 2010, the union represents forty-three thousand agricultural producers in Quebec.