CJLC CONDEMNS CUPE MANITOBA, DEMANDS ACTION ON ANTISEMITISM

Winnipeg, MB – May 16, 2025 – At the 2025 Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Manitoba Convention, the union put forward a resolution that included a deeply flawed and harmful definition of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) that can be used to deny or diminish legitimate concerns about antisemitism.

Though a revised motion that would protect Palestinians from discrimination while also safeguarding the Jewish community’s right to name and challenge antisemitism was passed by delegates, CUPE Manitoba’s resolution committee denied the revision, enshrining the problematic definition in their union education programs.

In response, the Canadian Jewish Labour Committee has issued the following statement:

“CUPE Manitoba’s proposed definition of APR risks being maliciously used to dismiss legitimate accusations of antisemitism – effectively silencing Jewish Canadians who speak out against hate, discrimination, or intimidation. This approach is not only harmful, but stands in direct contradiction to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which the Province of Manitoba adopted in October 2022.

“This undemocratic move sends a clear message: CUPE Manitoba is not prepared to listen to its own members, nor to engage seriously with the concerns of the Jewish community.

“This incident is part of a broader, deeply concerning pattern. Across Canada, we are seeing CUPE bodies resist engagement on antisemitism while allowing extreme rhetoric to take hold. In Manitoba, repeated attempts to open respectful dialogue with CUPE leadership have been ignored or dismissed.

“We call on CUPE Manitoba to take immediate action to repair this damage by:

• Engaging in open, good-faith dialogue with Jewish members and representatives of mainstream Jewish community organizations.
• Partnering with the Canadian Jewish Labour Committee to deliver meaningful education on antisemitism.
• Taking clear, measurable steps to combat antisemitism and to ensure Jewish members are safe, respected, and free from hate within the union.

“We urge all people of goodwill to join us in demanding accountability and meaningful change. This is not just about the serious concerns of one community – this is about building an equitable and inclusive environment for all union workers.”

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