Prominent and well-respected Canadian union leader Fred Hahn has come under attack again for his steadfast support of Palestinians and his work for Palestine solidarity.
This time, the attacks from Zionists, rightwing politicians and employers on Hahn, who is president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees-Ontario (CUPE-O), have resulted in an atrocious capitulation by his union’s national federation, which openly requested that he resign from the CUPE National Executive Board.
This move is an open threat to the labour movement and, in particular, to social justice unionism, international class solidarity, union militancy and direct action. It is a gift to anti-working-class forces that seek to weaken union mobilisation, activism and resolve.
If Hahn is forced to resign it would amount to a coup, instigated from outside by notorious conservative government leaders.
The threat to unions and the labour movement more broadly is clearly signaled by politicians, anti-Palestinian groups and pro-boss commentators, who rushed to celebrate CUPE National’s move and this latest attempt to interfere in union affairs.
In response to the attack, rank-and-file workers, Palestine solidarity organisers, anti-Zionist Jewish groups and social justice movements have launched campaigns to defend Hahn and assert union solidarity with Palestine.
However, the right-wing and reactionary attacks — facilitated by CUPE National — have already achieved their goal and had a negative impact. They have put pro-Palestine, and other social justice, union voices on the defensive and drawn attention away from the real issue — the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Hahn’s record
Hahn is the first openly gay president in CUPE and has been a consistent supporter of community social justice movements and activism. For this, he has long been a target of right-wing, anti-union forces and anti-LGBTIQ bigots.
I worked with Hahn as a rank-and-file CUPE-O delegate over several years. Because of his profile, regular attendance at Palestine solidarity events and consistent criticism of Israeli state violence, Hahn has been a favoured prominent target of anti-Palestinian forces.
Zionists tried to have him removed from CUPE almost immediately following October 7 last year. Those efforts were thwarted by an active rank-and-file and community defence campaign.
The excuse for the most recent attack was a video Hahn posted on X, then deleted. He later apologised and explained: “My intention in posting it was to call attention to the reality that, while the Russian Federation was barred from participating at the Paris Olympics, the state of Israel was permitted to participate — which appeared clearly to me to be a double standard.”
Notably, Hahn was elected to CUPE’s National Executive Board at the union’s national convention in October last year, after members were reminded of his longstanding support for Palestine. Earlier this year, members’ sentiment was reinforced when Hahn was reelected CUPE-O President by a majority of members at its own convention.
The CUPE National decision came only hours after Conservative Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development in Ontario confronted Hahn in a public space and posted the video to social media. This was clearly interference by a government minister in union affairs.
‘Which side are you on?’
A central historic question for the labour movement has been: “Which side are you on?” This question arose in the brutal 1930’s coal strike in the United States, when the bosses were trying hard to split working-class solidarity and resistance.
The question still faces unions today, in the face of imperialist war, occupation and genocide. Sadly, CUPE National has fallen into an obvious trap, positioning itself with the bosses, right-wing governments, imperialism and genocide.
On the other side, rank-and-file unionists, Palestine solidarity movements, anti-Zionist Jews and community justice groups have mobilised to promote solidarity among workers of the world. This includes grassroots campaigns to get CUPE National to rescind its call for Hahn’s resignation.
The Executive Committee of my own former CUPE local, CUPE 3903, issued a strong statement calling on CUPE National to reverse its call for Hahn’s resignation, pointing out that “CUPE National’s response contributes to the ongoing widespread repression of Palestinian solidarity”.
The CUPE 3903 statement reinforces the centrality of working-class solidarity, in workplaces, across working-class communities and beyond borders: “As a labour union, it is our duty to be in solidarity not only with those in our own workplaces and communities experiencing oppression, but also those worldwide who are experiencing oppression.
“As workers, we know our struggles are intertwined. This is why CUPE 3903 must loudly resist the violent societal structures that not only restrict workers’ freedoms, but also the freedom of all peoples — especially, in this moment, those in Palestine.
“Over 50,000 Palestinian people have been killed by the Israeli government since October of 2023. We cannot lose sight of this horrific reality.”
The 3903 statement concludes: “The National Executive Board’s actions contribute to the climate of repression that damages all workers’ attempts at resisting harmful conditions, inside and outside of their places of employment, locally and transnationally.”
Jewish voices
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada also released a statement firmly rejecting accusations of antisemitism against Hahn, saying: “The social media post by Fred Hahn was not antisemitic; it unambiguously chose Israel as the target of its criticism, not the Jewish people.
“Recent surveys show that Canadians still hold their Jewish neighbours in high esteem while at the same time condemning Israeli atrocities. Ordinary Canadians clearly know the difference between Jewish people on the one hand and the State of Israel on the other.”
IJV Canada stressed that such “civil terror” campaigns are cynical efforts “meant to silence critics of the Israeli genocide in Gaza”.
Jews Say No to Genocide also released a detailed statement, saying that Hahn “has a demonstrated record of commitment to fighting the actual roots of antisemitism that pose a threat to Jews…
“We know that it is through a commitment to solidarity among marginalised groups, which Hahn consistently demonstrates, that Jews will be safe, rather than unwavering allegiance to a genocidal state.”
The statement also noted that CUPE National’s actions fly in the face of CUPE’s longstanding support for Palestinians, and for worldwide class solidarity.
A gift to anti-worker, anti-Palestinian forces
CUPE National’s capitulation is a huge gift to enemies of the working class and anti-Palestinian forces.
Zionist group, the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), commended CUPE National for calling for Hahn’s resignation. CIJA is among the most aggressive groups attacking Palestine solidarity voices and has launched slur campaigns against pro-Palestinian voices.
Conservative Ontario Premier Doug Ford put out a statement applauding CUPE National’s actions, adding: “Now it’s time for Fred to put his members first and do the right thing by resigning from all his positions of leadership.”
Ford is a notorious conservative who has implemented anti-working class policies. His statement was so embarrassing for CUPE National that they were compelled to respond. In a reply tweet CUPE National President Mark Hancock wrote: “We don't need advice from a union-hating, anti-worker premier who closes ERs, underfunds public schools and hospitals, and sells out Ontario's Greenbelt and waterfront to private interests. You should focus on your multiple scandals and fixing the mess you've made of Ontario.”
Yet, Hancock’s response rings hollow, given that CUPE National’s open attack on Hahn plays into the hands of right-wing politicians and employers, who have taken CUPE National’s actions as an opportunity to redouble their attacks on unions and the labour movement.
The attack has provided an opening for anti-union forces to hammer unions as being out of touch with workers, involved with “non-workplace” issues and wasting members’ dues — all features of the anti-union playbook.
‘An injury to one is an injury to all’
For his part, Hahn is holding firm and refusing to resign. It is important that allies continue to have his back.
Labour for Palestine (L4P), a rank-and-file cross-union network has launched an online letter campaign calling on CUPE National to reverse its call for Hahn’s resignation. At the time of writing, about 180,000 people had sent letters.
It is crucial that all unions oppose political interference from employers, governments and those who support the mass killing of oppressed and exploited people. As L4P puts it, “We cannot allow our unions and union leaders to bow to outside interference.”
Labour has always maintained that “an injury to one is an injury to all”. As L4P stresses, “Canadian labour unions have always played a strong role in global social movements. From refusing to be complicit in South African apartheid to refusing to fund and support the genocide in Gaza, labour has never been restrained by national borders.”