The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) adopted a motion last month supporting the so-called BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) efforts in an attempt to harm Israel. Pictured: OPSEU President JP Hornick. Photo Credit: OPSEU.
What will it take for Canada to crack down on its appalling public sector unions? It was just discovered that the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) adopted a motion last month supporting the so-called BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) efforts in an attempt to harm Israel. Some of the wording of the motion was to support “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 was also included, as well as a call for OPSEU members and other unions to conduct public campaigns in support of Palestinians and against Israel. Clearly facts aren’t OPSEU’s strong suit, as references to such things as an “invasion” of Gaza are anything but accurate.
Needless to say, Jewish OPSEU members were irate that this motion had been adopted and that union members were not given a say in the matter. It appears that the vote only involved union executives or maybe there was no vote at all as the process seems to have been very secretive. The fact the union had not publicized its approval of this motion when it happened speaks volumes. Unions constantly claim that they always take issues to their membership for a vote prior to adoption, but this instance proves yet again that claim is dishonest and always has been. Often, even if some kind of vote is taken on a contentious issue, the union works to ensure only a select number of members expected to support the union leadership is informed of the vote, or the vote is otherwise contrived to achieve the leaders’ desired result.
It’s only public sector unions that seem so very engaged in the Israel-Gaza issue, and consistently support the terrorist position in the Middle East. Private sector unions don’t seem to be involved in such issues, likely because they have to operate in a competitive environment where indulging in contentious behaviour can be bad for business. A number of students, businesses, social media activists, employees and others have found themselves facing negative consequences for supporting the terrorist cause in this conflict. Public sector unions likely believe themselves and their members to be bulletproof from being fired or otherwise disciplined so don’t hesitate to become involved in such distasteful stances. The fact that these government unions are financed by our tax dollars makes their politicking even more offensive.
There have been a number of court proceedings in the past questioning the unions’ rights to spend dues that members are prohibited by law to stop paying if they disagree with the union on an issue that has nothing to do with the typical union business of engaging in collective bargaining. One of the most famous cases was the Lavigne case in 1991, which was instigated by Francis Lavigne, a college teacher, against OPSEU. Lavigne held that the union was using his forced dues to support issues with which he disagreed, and that this infringed his constitutional rights with respect to freedom of expression. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which decided in favour of the union. To date, this decision has been the seminal case that is cited when the matter arises of unions taking what amounts to political positions unrelated to collective bargaining.
However, courts have changed their stances on issues in response to shifts in public opinion and it’s high time Canadian courts stopped their immense generosity to public sector unions at the expense of the majority of Canadians. The recent Israel-Gaza war has reinvigorated the cause to stop unions from getting involved in issues that have nothing to do with collective bargaining, such that some legal proceedings are underway representing Jewish union members who oppose paying dues to unions who express anti-Israel positions. More Canadians need to get involved and make their views publicly clear about support for Canada’s democratic ally, Israel, and against the terrorist forces Israel is fighting on our behalf.
OPSEU seems to be the union involved when many of these situations arise, but the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has also been on the radar as having taken an anti-Israel stance in the current Middle East conflict and marching in Canadian cities alongside the terrorist sympathizers. It’s likely that OPSEU is still smarting after its useless recent strike at the LCBO failed miserably and it was easily outmaneuvered by the Ontario government. Perhaps the union leadership thought a foolish anti-Israel motion would change the channel. Let’s hope this recent move on OPSEU’s part further disempowers unions in Canada, who have gone way beyond their best before date.
The OPSEU anti-Israel BDS motion is only the latest in a string of dangerous developments that have reminded some Canadians of the lead-up to the Second World War, when Hitler’s incremental actions against Jews and other groups he did not deem worthy eventually became the Holocaust, one of the worst catastrophes in the history of mankind. After that abomination, decent people around the world said “Never again.” Yet here we are again. The current Paris Olympics has seen crowds shouting “Heil Hitler” in the stands at some matches. Our governments, police forces and other authorities have remained aloof to the hate-filled marches in our streets which glorify terrorism. Why are all of these odious actions not attracting widespread and very public opposition?
There is an old saying that “It may begin with the Jews, but it doesn’t end with the Jews”. We are all lessened by tacitly permitting these kinds of opinions to fester in our society by not opposing them strenuously. It’s also no accident that forces of the left, notably unions and others, are often the standard-bearers for points of view that not only demonize Israel, but democracy, freedoms and our way of life in the Western world. All decent people must fight against these developments, as it is our future and that of future generations that’s at stake.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
