On Sunday afternoon, extremists met in front of the United States consulate in Toronto for a “Hands Off Iran” rally. It was
before the U.S. army bombed the nuclear sites of
,
last weekend, dismantling the Islamic Republic’s nuclear enrichment capabilities.
While a debate over American military intervention is expected in the current Canadian climate, what made this rally notable was its union backing.
Prior to the rally, a promotional
was circulated on social media by the radical Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM); along the bottom were the logos of CUPE Ontario, PYM, SPRING Magazine and others. Immediately, the media
Facing national outrage, CUPE Ontario pledged support for the rally in a
released June 17, adding that the flyer in question was an “early unapproved draft version.”
On June 20, the national branch of CUPE released a
declaring itself an “anti-war union”; it didn’t address the “Hands Off Iran” rally directly, but it did declare “solidarity with workers in Iran” while denouncing human rights abuses in the country.
“CUPE calls on Canada to unequivocally condemn the escalating attacks between Israel and Iran, oppose President Trump’s reckless threats of nuclear war, and state plainly Canada’s intent to pursue diplomatic solutions and opposition to military conflict in the region,” it concluded.
For a number of reasons, CUPE’s statements weren’t just damage control, but a masterclass in deception.
First, CUPE Ontario organized the rally in collaboration with PYM, an effective proxy for the Iranian regime in Canada that
the October 7 massacre and has
on Canadian streets. When this is the union’s chosen partner to promote a protest, it is certainly not an anti-war rally — even if it’s labelled that way — but a hate rally.
Second, by declaring itself an “anti-war union,” as it did in its recent statement, the national branch of CUPE played its members for fools. The Islamic Republic of Iran, an Islamic theocracy, is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism; it funds a global network of proxies, some of which might be sleeper cells here. One can only hope our national security agencies are
very close attention.
Third, both statements conveniently overlooked Iran’s decades-long, openly genocidal chants of “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” and ignored last month’s
from the International Atomic Energy Agency that the regime has enough material for multiple nuclear warheads. A nuclear bomb within the grasp of religious fanatics who promise to use it has nothing to do with peace. When CUPE’s leadership runs cover for extremist theocrats, they make a mockery of peace while betraying their members with foreign propaganda.
Lastly, in all its supposedly pacifist rhetoric, CUPE’s national branch couldn’t even bring itself to stand in solidarity with Israeli workers — Jews and Arabs alike — who live under the constant threat of annihilation by the Islamic regime and its proxies. It did claim to support Iranian workers, however.
In the eyes of many Canadians, CUPE Ontario, led by
, has transformed from a labour union into a platform for a hate movement, funded by its members’ dues. Similar concerns have been
about the national branch, where Hahn is the general vice-president.
But this isn’t just about CUPE or the “Hands Off Iran” rally. This shameful episode is a perfect example of a sickness spreading through Canada’s labour movement. It is a symptom of a larger problem: a radical, activist minority is hijacking our unions. While the vast majority of unionized employees are focused on their jobs, their families and the challenges of life, small groups are using member dues to play their own politics.
They pass resolutions, fund front groups, and march in protests that have
nothing to do with the workplace
but everything to do with a toxic international political agenda. All of it is done quietly, while hard-working Canadians are too busy to notice.
This must end. The purpose of a union is to fight for better wages, secure pensions and safer working conditions, and to prepare for the challenges technology brings. Its power comes from its ability to deliver a better life for its members, not from its alignment with extremist movements or from supporting a genocidal theocratic regime.
The solution rests with the silent majority. It is time to stop being passive. Unionized employees across Canada should start by finding out who their unions are partnering with and what causes they’re funding with dues. Next, members should show up to union meetings and ask questions. Third, they should demand that the focus return to what matters: members’ jobs and futures.
Unions that stay laser-focused on labour issues are stronger and more effective. This makes a real difference for working people. But if union leaders keep eroding our trust, Canadians may have no choice but to weaken the very unions they once fought so hard to build.
Supporting hard-working Canadians must always be the heart of the labour movement — not radical foreign activism. Rebuilding our unions before the damage is too deep is essential not just for us, but for the future of work in Canada.
National Post
Ori Freiman is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at McMaster University.
