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.

In this time of rising antisemitism, and marginalization of Jewish workers in their Unions, the Canadian Jewish Labour Committee (CJLC) wants to highlight some basic safety and security principles. Hopefully this will be of help to Jewish workers feeling the emotional injury of workplace and/or Union-based antisemitism.

In the workplace, anti-harassment policies should exist. We urge our Jewish members to familiarize themselves with their workplace harassment policies, and to speak with their workplace Health and Safety representatives if you witness, or feel threatened by, any antisemitic actions at the workplace. Such events could include anti-Zionist rallies, name calling, physical threats or being blocked from accessing the workplace or services like lunch rooms, exclusion from workplace meetings that you would normally be able to attend, and so on. Jewish members are encouraged to document such occurrences, record witnesses if possible, and respond to any form of harassment within the bounds of workplace policy. CJLC is prepared to assist and support any Jewish worker in this situation.

Unions have an obligation to ensure their members are free from harassment. Most if not all Unions have anti-harassment policies, which include steps to filing a complaint of harassment within the union. If any Jewish Union member experiences harassment, CJLC strongly encourages them to file harassment complaints within the Union. CJLC stands ready to support any Union member in this situation with their union.

Proactively, CJLC encourages all Jewish workers to speak with their Union stewards and with their supervisor or department head, and with their Health and Safety representative, about the fact of rising antisemitism, and to go on record if you feel threatened or unsafe in the Union or the workplace. It is reasonable to also ask what measures the employer and/or the Union have in place, or are prepared to take, to ensure your physical and emotional safety.

If you are a Jewish Union member and wish to get more information or seek support, please contact us.

My painful awakening as a Jewish union member in Canada

By Lindsay Gilbert, Medium, September 9, 2024

Toronto - Last week, unlike in previous years, Labour Day came with lots of baggage. In the past, I took it pretty much for granted — a day off work, an unofficial start to fall and a moment to appreciate the efforts of those who long ago brought us this day: labour unions. Not anymore.

I’m a Toronto-based Jewish member of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) in Canada’s largest province, and since October 7, 2023, my identity as a Jewish woman and Ontario worker has been shaken. This is true also for many other Jewish members of Ontario unions, prompting us to come together to launch the Canadian Jewish Labour Committee, a revival, modelled on the original.

Our grassroots initiative of Jewish union members will combat antisemitism, promote inclusion of all people and encourage engagement and solidarity in Canada’s labour movement. We will champion justice, dignity and respect for all workers and oppose all forms of hatred and discrimination.

For 19 years, I was an unengaged union member, content to pay dues and respect the achievements of the collective bargaining members to negotiate a decent contract for my work. That changed early this year when I painfully discovered how woefully naive I was about OPSEU’s activities. As I watched online a video of my union’s flags, carried next to terrorist flags and screams of “There is only one solution! Intifada revolution!” I wondered why so many people want me dead? And why is my union there?

I joined a group of fellow Jewish union members who had similar questions. As it turns out, Jewish members of other unions such as Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Ontario) and Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) were also reaching out to each other.

Since then, OPSEU, PSAC and CUPE held workshops and “teach-ins” at which blatantly anti-Israel and anti-Jewish opinions had pride of place as Israel was falsely accused of colonialism, apartheid and genocide. Later, the facilitators of the OPSEU workshop received awards for their work.

Recently, CAPE members demanded answers from leadership about the union’s spending practices — in particular, the funding of Cape 4 Palestine. This member initiative received $5,000, exceeding the approved donation budget.

Once again failing their Jewish members, CAPE and OPSEU participated in Ottawa’s recent Capital Pride Parade, despite many organizations withdrawing due to the event’s anti-Israel stance and baseless accusations of Israeli “pinkwashing.”

Last October, soon after Hamas slaughtered 1,200 people in Israel, CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn tweeted a message celebrating “the power of resistance,” deeply offending union members, who filed a human rights complaint. The rampant discrimination and antisemitism have continued, including Hahn’s recent post of an antisemitic video, igniting a media firestorm and CUPE National Executive Board’s call for his resignation.

OPSEU, PSAC, and CUPE all formally adopted a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction resolution, prompting a terrorism-linked organization to congratulate OPSEU on social media.

All the unions mentioned have also shunned the widely adopted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.

This is only a tiny fraction of what Jewish union members in Canada have experienced, with antisemitism now seemingly part of union life. Many of us are descendants of Holocaust survivors and assumed that, living in Canada, we would never have to worry about Jew-hatred. How wrong we were.

The impact of these recent months is that I and many others have felt humiliation, shame, anxiety, despair and isolation. We are unwelcome in the very unions whose equity and inclusion policies don’t apply to us. Enough is enough. Unions need to change, and we all need to raise our voices. Again.

Unions exist ostensibly to improve conditions for workers. But if they are also to adopt social justice initiatives, how can a union work properly if it alienates part of its membership, especially in the name of solidarity? How do labour unions explain their near-obsession with vilifying Israel and silence on terrorist groups whose publicly stated goals glorify the death and destruction of Israel and Jews? Why do they consistently ignore almost all other international conflicts?

Forsaking their raison d’être, unions have lost their way as members are divided by hate, fomented by leadership unwilling to be held accountable, some of whom are part of the hate themselves. All union members, Jewish and non-Jewish, need to speak out, to return labour unions to their original purpose — real solidarity.

— Lindsay Gilbert is a public service employee and union member in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario, Canada

New labour movement aims to protect, advocate for Jewish workers

Author of the article:

Bryan Passifiume

Published Sep 03, 2024  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  2 minute read

OTTAWA — Citing rampant anti-Semitism in Canadian organized labour, a new movement aims to give Jewish workers a voice in their unions.

"Jewish union members across many different unions have been experiencing discrimination and anti-Semitism,” CJLC spokesperson Lindsay Gilbert told The Toronto Sun. 

“It’s been pretty difficult, especially since Oct. 7 and up to and including the whole (CUPE Ontario President) Fred Hahn debacle.”

After a string of alleged anti-Semitic social media posts since the Oct. 7 terror attacks — including celebrating the attacks as legitimate resistance — Hahn ignored calls from his union’s national executive to step down as general vice-president of the union’s national board, as well as condemnations from a number of CUPE locals. 

Hahn remains unapologetic about his views, marking Labour Day by wearing a white keffiyeh — less than 24 hours after Hamas terrorists executed six Israeli hostages just ahead of a military operation attempting to rescue them.

Gilbert likened the CJLC’s founding to struggles Jewish unionists experienced decades ago, in the face of anti-Jewish hatred.

“It’s very much like back in the 1930s and 40s, Jewish labour members were dealing with essentially the same thing,” she said.

“They gathered then and pushed against it, and were successful. And I don’t know if you want to say ‘sadly’ or ‘serendipitously,’ here we are again.”

According to the committee’s press release, the CJLC is a grassroots organization founded by Jewish unionists and their allies, to fill an urgent need of protection and advocacy.

“Geopolitical ideologies and anti-Israel sentiments have increasingly infiltrated unions, shifting their focus from essential labour issues and creating environments where anti-Semitism is thriving,” the release read.

“Jewish members of OPSEU, CUPE, CAPE, PSAC and other unions have reported feeling isolated, unwelcome, and marginalized.”

One month after the Oct. 7 attacks, Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) President Camille Awada stepped down when previous anti-Semitic social media posts came to light.

Awada’s resignation came around the same time Jewish CUPE members launched a human rights complaint against their union.

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https://torontosun.com/news/new-labour-movement-aims-to-protect-advocate-for-jewish-workers