Jewish CUPE members express concern as union doubles-down on leader’s comments

Published Sep 02, 2024  •  2 minute read

Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario, speaks to a crowd in support of children's aid workers across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville at a rally held in Brockville on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photo by Sabrina Bedford /Brockville Recorder and Times

Despite several locals and even the union’s national executive calling for his resignation, CUPE Ontario’s affirmation of their leader and his controversial statements about Israel has alarmed its Jewish members.

In a statement over the weekend from CUPE Ontario, the union reaffirmed its confidence in CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn, under fire for a string of problematic social media posts which critics say are anti-Semitic.

“The CUPE Ontario Executive Board wants to reiterate its commitment to fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people, and the right of workers to be able to advocate for solidarity with Palestine,” read the statement.

“At this week’s planning session, members of CUPE Ontario’s executive board took the opportunity to pass motions in support of Brother Hahn as both CUPE General VP and as CUPE Ontario’s president.”

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That affirmation sparked anger among Jewish CUPE members, who contend that Hahn’s position has become increasingly anti-Semitic, fostering an increasingly perilous situation for Jews in organized labour.

“For all of these people who keep saying it’s just Jewish people with their feelings hurt, this isn’t about hurt feelings — it’s about hate towards Jews,” said CUPE member Carrie Silverberg.

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“It’s about celebrating Oct. 7, it still goes back to that … there’s never been any accountability for that first statement, and it’s continued and (Hahn) has dug in harder.”

Silverberg is a plaintiff in a human rights complaint by CUPE’s Jewish members against their union.

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She said Jewish CUPE members feel increasingly isolated and alone, facing increasing levels of hate from both within and outside their union.

Jewish unionists reacted with alarm over Hahn’s Oct. 7 post, where he gleefully likened the deadly Hamas terror attack to legitimate forms of resistance.

“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,” he posted on X Oct. 8.

“Because #Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, #Resistance brings progress, and for that, I’m thankful.”

On Aug. 11, Hahn shared a Facebook post depicting an AI-generated Olympic diver, wearing a Star of David on his arm, leaping from the springboard before turning into a bomb and falling on houses, purportedly criticism of Israel’s ongoing campaign to eradicate Hamas terrorists from Gaza.

That post prompted CUPE’s national executive to call for Hahn’s resignation from his position on their board, and castigation from both Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his labour minister, David Piccini, who accused Hahn of being anti-Semitic and urged the labour leader to “stop hating Jews.”

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