The Canadian Jewish Labour Committee (CJLC) has received a copy of the newly-released “International Solidarity Report” from the Canadian Union of Public Employees [CUPE]. This report details CUPE's policy positions regarding a series of international issues. One of the sections is entitled “Palestine.”
CJLC is concerned that CUPE has adopted a one-sided, polarizing narrative that does nothing to advance Palestinian self-determination nor peace in that region. Worse, the narrative disregards the role of Hamas, named by Canada a terrorist group, in the subjugation and abuse of Gazan citizens. The narrative from CUPE refers to an “attack” by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. The world knows this was, in fact, a single-day massacre of over 1200 civilians, including foreign nationals. Hamas committed atrocities which included rape and the parading of dismembered bodies. It is profoundly troubling that CUPE appears to ignore these bitter realities.
CUPE's narrative refers to Israel's war with Hamas as a “genocide” but fails to mention that Israel has supplied electricity and water to Gaza prior to and throughout the length of this war, and has partnered with health agencies to ensure that Gazan children receive the polio vaccine. This is not genocide.
CUPE refers to the plight of Gazan workers, but fails to note that under the thumb of Hamas, worker organizations in Gaza have not enjoyed free collective bargaining as we know it in Canada. Israel, on the other hand, has a long established and highly democratic trade union movement, arguably the only country in the Middle East with such advancements for unionized workers. CUPE ignores the fact that since it took power in Gaza in 2005, following the Israeli withdrawal, Hamas has funneled billions of aid dollars into its terrorism preparedness, not into building its economy.
CUPE's narrative ignores thousands of Israeli trade unionists who have had to live in bomb shelters and have been unable to work because of daily rocket barrages from Hezbollah, another terrorist group that has been attacking northern Israel since before October 7, 2023. CUPE should have noted that since 2005 until October 7, Israel had issued thousands of work permits to Gazans who willingly entered Israel for work.
Perhaps of greatest concern, the CUPE narrative puts many of its own members at risk. CUPE has members who are Israeli, and those who have family in Israel. The one-sided and false portrayal of Israel, the world's only Jewish state, as a genocidal aggressor, dismisses the emotional suffering of many Union members. By extension, Jewish CUPE members feel at risk. Additionally, there are the members whose heritage is Israeli Druze, Bedouin, or Christian, but are victimized by the same false narrative. For at least the past year, Jewish CUPE members have raised concerns about rising antisemitism within the Union, and have shared the pain and marginalization they have faced from their Union. They await a message of solidarity from their Union, not a one-sided narrative that only feeds their sense of isolation. This is hardly in keeping with the mission of CUPE and is a disservice to the honourable history which CUPE has in Canadian labour. CUPE is capable of much more than this.
CJLC was created to support Canadian Jewish Union workers. CJLC is prepared to assist Unions to understand the nature of contemporary antisemitism, and to mitigate its insidious incursion into the Union world.
CJLC is very concerned by the situation facing Palestinian and Israeli workers. The reality is that a one-sided narrative only puts up more barriers to finding a lasting peace in the region, which is key to advancing worker rights.
CJLC remains ready to assist CUPE, or any Union, which is interested in creating an atmosphere of inclusion for all members, and can source the resources for a balanced narrative which truly focuses on key issues while upholding the dignity and safety of all Union workers.