Jewish OPSEU members outraged over union’s endorsement of BDS movement

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Jewish members of an Ontario public sector labour union say they feel betrayed after leadership ratified a resolution supporting a contentious worldwide anti-Israel movement.

Last month, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) executive adopted a motion in support of the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) campaign that is designed to isolate and punish Israel in support of Palestinians. National Post has obtained a copy of the motion.

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The OPSEU resolutions call for an “immediate end to Israel’s blockade, bombing and invasion of Gaza, and the mass detentions and killings of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank”; an international ban on arms deals with Israel; and for OPSEU locals and other unions to “advocate, mobilize and build” various “public “campaigns” in support of Palestinians and against Israel.

OPSEU member Daz Salama said he felt “shocked and disgusted” upon learning about the motion.

I feel unheard, unwelcome and totally ignored

Daz Salama

“I feel betrayed. As a dues-paying member and local executive for 18 years, to have them turn on me like this,” he said.

“I feel unheard, unwelcome and totally ignored.”

Salama said the endorsement creates the illusion the entire membership supports the BDS movement, but says that isn’t the case.

“I have many allies who are not Jewish asking the same questions — why is our union spending money and time on this, and not getting the approval from the membership?”

Lindsay Gilbert, another Jewish OPSEU member, said she feels saddened and disappointed.

“After everything Jewish members have already been through, it’s like getting kicked when you’re already down,” she said.

Earlier this year, Jewish OPSEU members were outraged after union flags were spotted at a Toronto anti-Israel rally.

“Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around,” chanted participants supporting shipping attacks by the Houthis, a Yemeni terrorist organization whose slogan includes “Death to Israel” and “Curse the Jews.”

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“Here I am, paying union dues for people to effectively call for my death at these activities,” Gilbert said.

“There must be business that’s not getting done or being pushed back because of this laser-focus on international conflict. That’s not fair to (union membership.) How are they being represented fairly when focus and resources are being taken away? How is this good for the union?”

In a statement to National Post that was subsequently published on its website, OPSEU insisted its membership is “united” in concern over the “spiral of death and destruction” in the region.

“As a social justice union, we believe that unions and the broader labour movement must fight for labour rights and human rights — not just at home, but everywhere,” the statement read.

Since the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, which saw Hamas terrorists conduct a campaign of murder, kidnappings and sexual assault on Israeli towns adjacent to Gaza, Jewish union members are growing increasingly concerned with their leadership’s overt preoccupation with anti-Israel causes.

In February, Jewish members of the federal Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) took their union to Canada’s human rights tribunal, accusing leadership of fostering a “culture of discrimination and harassment.”

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Employment Lawyer Daniel Lublin, representing some of the complainants in that case, told the National Post this week that many Canadian unions maintain clearly biased agendas.

“Unions are exceeding their statutory mandate in advancing these agendas,” he said.

“The purpose of being in a union is not to have your union advance political issues on your behalf. The purpose of being in a union … is to negotiate better working conditions.”

Members do not have the right to opt-out of paying union dues, leaving those upset over offensive political agendas little recourse.

“That’s the unfair situation that Jewish or pro-Israel members of unions find themselves in,” he said.

Shimon Koffler Fogel, president and CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) condemned OPSEU’s apparent obsession with Israel.

“BDS campaigns, which should be understood as ‘ban Jews’ campaigns, do nothing to promote peace, and harm efforts to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together,” he said.

“The movement unfairly demonizes Israel as the sole perpetrator of the conflict, creating a one-sided narrative that removes all responsibility from the other parties, including Hamas — reflecting the soft racism of low expectations.”

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B’nai Brith Canada’s Richard Robertson said OPSEU’s decision will only serve to further ostracize its Jewish members.

“Equating the innocent hostages held by Hamas, a listed terror organization, with suspected and convicted terrorists being detained by Israel is morally reprehensible,” he said.

“It is unbecoming of a Canadian union to interject itself into an international conflict and to endorse inflammatory positions that conflict with Canada’s anti-racism strategy.”

OPSEU’s statement compared Israel to now-defunct racist apartheid South African government as justification for supporting the BDS movement.

“Our union has a long and proud record of actively contributing to the struggle against South African apartheid through the boycott of South African goods,” OPSEU said.

National Post

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