Canada’s largest public sector union is rejecting claims before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal that it has promoted and engaged in antisemitism.
CUPE Ontario and the CUPE 3906 local chapter were slapped with a human rights complaint from several of its Jewish members claiming antisemitism at the hands of the labour union, exemplified by the union’s policies and statements after the October 7 terrorist attack.
CUPE’s statement of defence argues that the human rights complaint is unfounded and that the complainants are mistaken in believing that statements and actions the union has taken were antisemitic or discriminatory.
CUPE is standing by a statement one of its chapters had made on Oct. 7, 2023, the day of Hamas’ terrorist attack killing 1,100 Israeli civilians, in which the union praised Palestinian resistance.
The original complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal noted that CUPE local 3906 had posted “Palestine is rising, long live the resistance” on X shortly after news of Hamas’ massacre had begun circulating.
The statement of defence claims that CUPE 3906 was unaware of the massacre transpiring in Israel and that the union was only aware of images being shared of Palestinians destroying the wall surrounding the Gaza Strip.
“CUPE 3906 did not discriminate against the Applicant by posting the October 7th Tweet. The October 7th Tweet did not, as the Applicant alleges, celebrate the murder and rape of Jewish children and civilians or call such actions justified,” reads CUPE’s statement of defence.
CUPE is also defending the president of its Ontario political wing, Fred Hahn, and a statement he made the day after Hamas’ massacre expressing thankfulness for the “power of resistance around the globe.”
The defence argues that Hahn was not promoting violence and discrimination against Jews while also denying he allegedly celebrated the murder and rape of Israeli civilians by pointing to Hahn’s advocacy for transgender rights.
Hahn’s use of the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” is portrayed as a protest slogan for Palestinian liberation, freedom, and equality.
However, Jewish advocacy organizations and the applicants both argue that the “river to the sea” chant is antisemitic, as it calls for the complete elimination of the Jewish state from the Jordan River to the Red Sea.
While the complaint argues that promoting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel is rooted in antisemitism and the denial of the Jewish connection to Israel’s land, CUPE argues that BDS is merely a non-violent movement pressuring Israel to comply with international law.
Furthermore, CUPE expressed their firm opposition to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, claiming that it conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
The lawyer leading the charge against CUPE, Kathryn Marshall expressed to True North her disappointment with CUPE’s response to the human rights complaint.
“The defence illustrates how deeply ingrained antisemitism is in CUPE. It’s a disturbing, long-winded manifesto of CUPE’s discrimination towards its Jewish members,” said Marshall.
“There is no acknowledgement of the pain and trauma they have inflicted on their members. Instead, they are doubling-down. We are prepared to fight all the way.”
