CUPE: A house divided
The Ontario branch of CUPE, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, fancies itself a mover and shaker in international affairs. Recently, it passed a resolution calling on a boycott of Israel:
When I googled to get the text of the resolution, the first hit I got was from Al Awda, to which I linked. Al Awda is an organization with a checkered history, according to the Anti-Defamation League:May, 27 2006 Resolution:
CUPE ONTARIO WILL:
1. With Palestine solidarity and human rights organizations, develop an education campaign about the apartheid nature of the Israeli state and the political and economic support of Canada for these practices.
2. Support the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self- determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution194.
3. Call on CUPE National to commit to research into Canadian involvement in the occupation and call on the CLC to join us in lobbying against the apartheid-like practices of the Israeli state and call for the immediate dismantling of the wall.
BECAUSE:
- The Israeli Apartheid Wall has been condemned and determined illegal under international law.
- Over 170 Palestinian political parties, unions and other organizations including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions issued a call in July 2005 for a global campaign of boycotts and divestment against Israel similar to those imposed against South African Apartheid;
- CUPE BC has firmly and vocally condemned the occupation of Palestine and have initiated an education campaign about the apartheid-like practices of the Israeli state.
Al-Awda - Right of Return Coalition, an international grassroots organization, argues that Palestinian refugees have the right to return “to their original homes and villages” which existed prior to the founding of Israel, and that they should be paid restitution for their losses. Al-Awda supports the intifada and the establishment of a Palestinian state over all the territory west of the Jordan River, including Israel. Al-Awda has organized large protests with the International Action Center and its anti-war affiliate, ANSWER. It has also been active in several anti-Israel boycott campaigns. Al-Awda considers its advocacy on behalf of Palestinians as being at the center of a global struggle against Zionism and American foreign policy. Mazin Qumsiyeh, a Yale University professor and an Al-Awda founder and leader, has called for supporting the “Iraqi resistance” against the pro-Israel “cabal” in Washington: “Only by awakening the US public and linking it to resistance movements from within the world community (including the Iraqi resistance), will this pathway to destruction be avoided.”
The website shows an Al Awda T-shirt with the phrase "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea" -- I guess that counts as the ultimate divestment of Israel.
Notice that ADL mentions that Al Awda has been active in anti-Israel boycott campaigns. One wonders if they were involved with CUPE Ontario and their leader Sid Ryan.
In any case, the resolution is tearing the union apart:
CUPE Ontario's decision to support a boycott against Israel has created "an unprecedented crisis" within the provincial union, according to the president of its largest single local.
In a letter dated June 20 and addressed to Ontario president Sid Ryan and national president Paul Moist, the head of the chapter representing 18,000 City of Toronto municipal workers says that the boycott has raised a host of problems that the Canadian Union of Public Employees could have avoided.
"As a result, much damage has been done to CUPE's reputation in the eyes of the members and the public," said Ann Dembinski, head of Local 79 in Toronto.
The unit represents about 10 per cent of the Ontario's wing's total membership.
Sid Ryan says what's done is done, and nothing can change it anytime soon:
In an interview, Mr. Ryan said the resolution was approved almost unanimously at the May meeting, which 20 members of Local 79 attended.
He said the decision could be reversed only at next year's annual meeting.
Of course, this is nonsense. The union executive can do whatever it wants if the survival of the union is being threatened.
In any case, with cheerleaders like Al Awda (and no doubt more sinister and less public organizations), it's not wonder that CUPE members are upset.
And one more thing. Did you notice that in the text of the resolution, CUPE keeps refering to Israel as "the Israeli state". Just once is the country named as "Israel". The rest of the time resolution avoids naming the "entity". Or should I say "Zionist entity"?
Nice bunch of guys, Sid Ryan and his clique. Next they'll pass a resolution demanding that the Protocols of Zion be made mandatory reading in Ontario classrooms.
[Hat tip to reader J]
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Comments
Of course, this is nonsense. The union executive can do whatever it wants if the survival of the union is being threatened.
Not true, and take it from someone who knows what he's talking about. The supreme governing body of CUPE-Ontario is its convention.
Nice bunch of guys, Sid Ryan and his clique. Next they'll pass a resolution demanding that the Protocols of Zion be made mandatory reading in Ontario classrooms.
And with this, I think you've lost it, Steve. That "any criticism of Israel is anti-Semitism" shtick is wearing a little thin. Frankly, I hope Sid sues you for defamation.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 24, 2006 10:57 AM
...and I may have to eat crow with respect to the first quotation. Unlike my own union, CUPE-Ontario's Constitution is silent on convention's power and authority.
Indeed the Executive may have the power to reverse a unanimous or near-unanimous decision of its convention, at which 20 delegates from the Local in question were in attendance. But I hope they don't, and given the level of feeling at convention, they would be unwise to attempt it.
My comments on the second quotation, however, stand. You've really crossed the line on this one.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 24, 2006 11:18 AM
Nice post Angry. These kinds of shenanigans show just how far some unions have drifted from or even hijacked their original mandate of negotiating bendfits,better working conditions and wages for it's members.
They don't seem to realize the more they try to play outside thier sandbox the more irrelevant they become.
Posted by: Farmer Joe at June 24, 2006 11:50 AM
Dr. Dawg is dead wrong on defamation.
Steve Janke in no way defamed Sid Ryan's character.
What Steve Janke did do was take issue with CUPE's policy as expressed by Sid Ryan.
Where in the post does it suggest that Sid Ryan is a crook, malfeasant character, advocate of violence, or of low or evil moral character? Answer: NO WHERE.
What Steve Janke does do, is make suggestions that CUPE is risible and suggests a farcial resolution for CUPE to pass the Protocols of Zion as required reading. Making light of what Steve Janke percieves as stupidity; is known as freedom of speech and one of those protected Charter rights.
Dr. Dawg has lost it on the defamation allegation.
Posted by: Hans Rupprecht at June 24, 2006 12:39 PM
Let's let a judge decide.
Publicly defaming an individual as an anti-Semite of the "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" persuasion could be taken as injuring his reputation. As an elected public figure, Sid Ryan has, I believe, an arguable case under Ontario civil law.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 24, 2006 02:15 PM
Dr. Dawg:
1. What does CUPE's resolution have to do with protecting and promoting the interests of its members?
2. Would it be appropriate for a large Canadian publicly traded corporation to take a similar position as CUPE?
Posted by: reality at June 24, 2006 02:25 PM
I would suggest, "reality," that the top leadership of CUPE-Ontario (by which I mean the elected delegation to its convention) have the right to take positions on anything they darned well feel like. That's democracy. Those people are all elected and accountable. The convention reconvenes every year. Every Locals gets to elect memebrs to go.
It's high time for non-union and anti-union types to show a little of that belief in democracy that they keep accusing the unions of ignoring.
With respect to publicly traded corporations, I guess the same principle applies--if only the AGMs were as democratic as union conventions. Do you think your rank-and-file stockholder likes to pay millions a year to CEOs? What do the latter actually do to earn money like that?
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 24, 2006 02:39 PM
Just a question, are people allowed to be full-time employees of the government without being required to have a membership in CUPE?
Posted by: CanForce 101 at June 24, 2006 03:12 PM
Hopefully unions will soon go the way of the dinosaurs. The leaders like Sid Ryan and Buzzy Hargrove have discredited themselves a long time ago, no one needs to do it for them. They make outrageous demands and expect everyone to jump to their tune. In a democracy they have no business interfering in the election process by supporting one party or other. People have to stop listening to these pompous twits.
Posted by: Old Biddy at June 24, 2006 03:34 PM
Oh did they say something? I hadn't noticed.
Posted by: Moneybags4me at June 24, 2006 05:04 PM
Test (I keep getting error messages with the word "Blacklist" at the end of them). Nah...couldn't be.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 24, 2006 08:43 PM
Well, that's a relief.
Just a question, are people allowed to be full-time employees of the government without being required to have a membership in CUPE?
CUPE is mainly municipal workers (although it has picked up some university teaching assistants, university admin. people and a few small agencies). The Rand formula generally applies: you pay dues (and get the collective agreement benefits as well as union representation to back them up), but you do not have to sign a union card.
In a democracy they have no business interfering in the election process by supporting one party or other.
A curious notion of "democracy" you have.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 24, 2006 08:45 PM
Just checked, and Dr Dawg is not on the blacklist. I've never added anyone to the blacklist -- it's not my style. I've banned one IP address associated with a persistent automated spammer, and that's all.
Glad to see that Dr Dawg is able to post. Can't explain why you were getting a blacklist message, though.
Sorry about that.
Posted by: Steve Janke at June 24, 2006 08:50 PM
I didn't really believe I'd been banned, Steve, although the word "Blacklist" appeared at the end of the string. I looked in vain for hidden "banned words" (e.g., so cialis t), but found none. It was obviously some kind of glitch in your Regex, although I don't have a clue what that's about.
For the record, I think this is one of the better conservative sites, comments are not messed with, and I've blogrolled it. Which doesn't mean I'm any less steamed about your attack on Sid Ryan.
Posted by: Dr.Dawg at June 25, 2006 07:41 AM
I have to agree with this boycott. How dare those Jooooooos settle on one of the only oil free patches of land in the middle east. Then,to build a thriving, industrious,DEMOCRATIC,country that includes a few million native Palestinians......Well it just makes my blood boil. Not to mention making their neighbours look bad. Go sid Ryan, stand proud CUPE.
Posted by: Rick at June 25, 2006 12:59 PM
I still haven't heard a good reason why a Canadian labour union is making resolutions about another country's political disputes...
Posted by: Mac at June 27, 2006 12:11 AM
Good thing CUPE Ontario is boycotting Israel. So what if it's a democracy that promotes freedom of speech and has a flourishing union movement? CUPE Ontario may have made the mistake of boycotting innocent countries like Syria or Egypt where labour leaders are often tortured and jailed.
Good thing Sid Ryan has his priorities straight.
What a flippin joke.
Israel has become the whipping boy of the extreme left.
Posted by: KJM at June 27, 2006 01:00 PM
 
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