CUPE official 'sickened' by Ontario president's posts after attack on Israel
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Oct 10, 2023 • 4 minute read
Most people thought it was just a rogue Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local that didn’t speak for the whole 700,000-member union.
Wrong. Seems some high-ranking CUPE officials are not on Israel’s side at all.
Just moments after Israeli children had been slaughtered, people were stunned by CUPE, Local 3906’s public support for those behind the genocide.
“Palestine is rising, long live the resistance,” they callously posted on X.
The cruelty didn’t stop there. It was followed by CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn liking that post and later going to social media with a “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free” meme. He also tweeted about being “thankful” for “resistance.”
Tweeted Hahn: “As we all think about reasons to be thankful this #thanksgiving2023, I know I’m thankful for the power of workers, the power of resistance around the globe. Because #Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, #Resistance brings progress, and for that, I’m thankful.”
There is nothing “fruitful” about mass murder. Hundreds of dead in a sneak attack and these labour leaders are celebrating the most Jewish people being slain in one day since the Holocaust!
Jewish groups say any support for these actions is support for Hamas.
Premier Doug Ford also expressed his outrage.
“The comments by the president of CUPE Ontario glorifying and celebrating the rape, abduction and murder of innocent Israeli people are disturbing, and I denounce them wholeheartedly,” said Ford Tuesday. “They do not reflect the views or values of Ontario, and I do not believe they represent the opinions of the workers he claims to speak for. Ontario does — and always will — support Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens against the brutal violence waged by Hamas terrorists.”
Hahn has also upset many CUPE members.
“I have never been so sickened as I am today by the comments of fellow union officers,” said CUPE 416 Paramedic Services Unit chair Mike Merriman.
He is calling for Hahn to resign.
“If this man has any semblance of decency and honour, he will step down,” Merriman said of Hahn, adding if it’s not denounced at the “national level” he may “consider stepping down as I cannot in good conscience support anti-Semitism or hatred in any form.”
In addition to the premier, CUPE bizarre stance is also out of step with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor Olivia Chow, who have thrown their “unequivocal” support behind Israel.
But not CUPE.
While the Local 3906 pulled its tweet and Hamilton’s McMaster University, where the union represents 3,000 workers, distanced itself from the sentiment, Hahn and CUPE National have doubled down.
Instead of calling out the terrorists and their evil carnage, the union that represents health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation and airlines across Canada are pushing that neutrality approach, but also admitting they actually back the Palestinian side, too.
“CUPE grieves the loss of life brought by the recent escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine,” said a release sent to the Toronto Sun in response to a request for comment from CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “We are horrified by the Hamas attack on Israel and the retribution by the state of Israel on the people of Palestine and condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians.”
But CUPE blames Israel.
“CUPE has long recognized the need for the Israeli government to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories and abide by UN resolutions and international law,” said the release. “The full siege that has now been declared on Gaza by Israel will worsen conditions for residents who are already struggling and deny the population of food, water, electricity and other necessities for life. It will not hasten a peaceful resolve.”
In fact, CUPE wants Trudeau to push back on Israel’s defence plans.
“We urge the government of Canada to call for a ceasefire, for the enforcement of international law and to work toward a peaceful resolution that upholds the rights to life and freedom of Palestinians and Israelis.”
While CUPE said it “stands in solidarity with all who struggle for genuine peace and justice in the region, and we call on the Canadian government to do the same,” its statement did not mention the 40 decapitated babies, young people raped and murdered at a music festival, soldiers tortured and hostages kidnapped.
In his 40 years as a union member, Merriman said Hahn and Local 3906’s comments “have no place in the Canadian labour movement” and are not representative of the “decent, hardworking and humanitarian CUPE members.”
But they are the views of some within the union brass.
https://twitter.com/FredHahnCUPE/st...tario-presidents-posts-after-attack-on-israel
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Oct 10, 2023 • 4 minute read
Most people thought it was just a rogue Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local that didn’t speak for the whole 700,000-member union.
Wrong. Seems some high-ranking CUPE officials are not on Israel’s side at all.
Just moments after Israeli children had been slaughtered, people were stunned by CUPE, Local 3906’s public support for those behind the genocide.
“Palestine is rising, long live the resistance,” they callously posted on X.
The cruelty didn’t stop there. It was followed by CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn liking that post and later going to social media with a “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free” meme. He also tweeted about being “thankful” for “resistance.”
Tweeted Hahn: “As we all think about reasons to be thankful this #thanksgiving2023, I know I’m thankful for the power of workers, the power of resistance around the globe. Because #Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, #Resistance brings progress, and for that, I’m thankful.”
There is nothing “fruitful” about mass murder. Hundreds of dead in a sneak attack and these labour leaders are celebrating the most Jewish people being slain in one day since the Holocaust!
Jewish groups say any support for these actions is support for Hamas.
Premier Doug Ford also expressed his outrage.
“The comments by the president of CUPE Ontario glorifying and celebrating the rape, abduction and murder of innocent Israeli people are disturbing, and I denounce them wholeheartedly,” said Ford Tuesday. “They do not reflect the views or values of Ontario, and I do not believe they represent the opinions of the workers he claims to speak for. Ontario does — and always will — support Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens against the brutal violence waged by Hamas terrorists.”
Hahn has also upset many CUPE members.
“I have never been so sickened as I am today by the comments of fellow union officers,” said CUPE 416 Paramedic Services Unit chair Mike Merriman.
He is calling for Hahn to resign.
“If this man has any semblance of decency and honour, he will step down,” Merriman said of Hahn, adding if it’s not denounced at the “national level” he may “consider stepping down as I cannot in good conscience support anti-Semitism or hatred in any form.”
In addition to the premier, CUPE bizarre stance is also out of step with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mayor Olivia Chow, who have thrown their “unequivocal” support behind Israel.
But not CUPE.
While the Local 3906 pulled its tweet and Hamilton’s McMaster University, where the union represents 3,000 workers, distanced itself from the sentiment, Hahn and CUPE National have doubled down.
Instead of calling out the terrorists and their evil carnage, the union that represents health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation and airlines across Canada are pushing that neutrality approach, but also admitting they actually back the Palestinian side, too.
“CUPE grieves the loss of life brought by the recent escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine,” said a release sent to the Toronto Sun in response to a request for comment from CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “We are horrified by the Hamas attack on Israel and the retribution by the state of Israel on the people of Palestine and condemn all acts of violence against innocent civilians.”
But CUPE blames Israel.
“CUPE has long recognized the need for the Israeli government to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories and abide by UN resolutions and international law,” said the release. “The full siege that has now been declared on Gaza by Israel will worsen conditions for residents who are already struggling and deny the population of food, water, electricity and other necessities for life. It will not hasten a peaceful resolve.”
In fact, CUPE wants Trudeau to push back on Israel’s defence plans.
“We urge the government of Canada to call for a ceasefire, for the enforcement of international law and to work toward a peaceful resolution that upholds the rights to life and freedom of Palestinians and Israelis.”
While CUPE said it “stands in solidarity with all who struggle for genuine peace and justice in the region, and we call on the Canadian government to do the same,” its statement did not mention the 40 decapitated babies, young people raped and murdered at a music festival, soldiers tortured and hostages kidnapped.
In his 40 years as a union member, Merriman said Hahn and Local 3906’s comments “have no place in the Canadian labour movement” and are not representative of the “decent, hardworking and humanitarian CUPE members.”
But they are the views of some within the union brass.
https://twitter.com/FredHahnCUPE/st...tario-presidents-posts-after-attack-on-israel
WARMINGTON: CUPE official 'sickened' by Ontario president's posts after attack on Israel
Moments after Israeli children had been slaughtered, people were stunned by CUPE Local 3906's public support for those behind the genocide.
