Workers at Laval’s Ferme Jeunes au Travail Unionize to Help Save the Farm

Laval, November 1, 2026: The General Union (TGU) is proud to announce that workers at Ferme Jeunes au Travail in Laval have chosen to unionize with majority support. Their goal is to take an active part in saving the farm and to defend its social mission.

Since 1993, Ferme Jeunes au Travail has nourished Laval residents while helping marginalized young adults find their way into employment through hands-on training in organic agriculture, cooking and woodworking, in addition to psychosocial support.

On October 13, 2026 management announced the temporary layoff of the vast majority of staff without notice. The announcement came only a few weeks after workers had been told about their wage increases, and then about the organization’s precarious financial situation. Today, 20 staff members are out of work and 9 participants have lost the support they relied on. To date, the laid-off workers have received no clear information about whether they will return to work.

The consequences go well beyond lost jobs. The farm gives young people support, stability and a place to regain their confidence and build their future. Ending their programs without notice directly undermines that mission.

“We want to save the farm, but we can’t do it without its workers. The people who have kept this organization running for years know what it takes to preserve its activities and its mission. Yet the decisions made over the past few months have too often lacked transparency and consultation.”  Member of the Agricultural Team

“Agriculture is already a precarious sector: seasonal work, low wages and health and safety risks. Laying off almost all the staff and cutting participants’ programs short without notice makes that precarity worse. The farm’s participants and workers deserve better.” Member of the Agricultural Team

“The people who ran this farm for years know how to help it through this crisis. It’s not too late to save it, but that requires immediate dialogue between management and the workers.” Member of the Agricultural Team

“The way the farm has been managed has harmed staff’s psychological health and our ability to act. Even so, we remain committed to the farm’s mission and to our responsibilities toward participants. We want to continue this work in a respectful environment that is able to meet its responsibilities to the community.” Member of the Intervention Team

Singularly motivated by the desire to save the community organization, workers are calling on the board of directors and management to begin clear and transparent negotiations with the union within the next week.

inquiries: info@syndicatgeneral