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There is a popular chant among Israeli and Palestinian protesters against the Israeli government's continuing occupation of Palestinian territory in the Middle East. They say, "First of all the wall must fall." They are referring to the "apartheid" or "separation" wall that Israel is building in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), determined that the wall is illegal and that Israel must dismantle it. CUPE BC shares the concerns of the protesters, the ICJ and others who oppose the escalation of retaliatory violence.

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At the annual convention of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, held 24-27 May 2006 in Ottawa, the union passed a resolution of historic importance. Resolution 50 -- adopted unanimously by the 900 delegates at the largest convention in the union's history -- expressed support for the global campaign against Israeli apartheid. The union stated that it would educate its members on the apartheid nature of the Israeli state and Canadian political and economic support for these practices. It also declared that CUPE Ontario would participate in the international campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel until the realization of Palestinian self-determination. Most importantly, the union highlighted the significance of the right of return of Palestinian refugees as a critical component of Palestinian self-determination.

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27 May 2006: CUPE Ontario declares that it will "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 resolution 194."

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I also found this:

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Sid Ryan, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario president, said 896 members voted unanimously at its convention in Ottawa on Saturday to support the campaign.

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Interesting - is there anything symbolic about the fact that CUPE held it's vote on the Sabbath.

[ 31 May 2006: Message edited by: abnormal ]

Let me try it this way: CUPE is a union of people who work for a living. Most of the people in the union who would make up the delgates would also in fact have jobs. It is common practice in the west for most people to work from Monday through Friday, leaving Saturday and Sunday as the days when most Union Workers could attend.

[email protected].

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Originally posted by Cueball:
Another interesting article on this breakthrough development in mainstream Canadian politics.

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