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Jewish unionists file human rights complaint against OPSEU

The complaints were filed on Oct. 7 before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal

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OTTAWA — Members of one of Ontario’s largest public sector unions have filed 27 separate human rights complaints, accusing the union of fostering a hostile environment for its Jewish members.

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Filed on Oct. 7 with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the complaints detail patterns of alleged problematic behaviour by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and its officials since last October’s Hamas terror attacks, creating what the complaint describes as a failure to ensure the union doesn’t discriminate against Jewish members.

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“Immediately following Hamas’ Oct. 7 2023 terrorist attack against Israel, OPSEU began advocating unbalanced and biased views towards Israel, and created a culture of fear, discrimination and bias towards Jewish OPSEU members,” alleges the complaint, a copy of which was viewed by the Toronto Sun. 

Invitations to OPSEU by the Toronto Sun for comment went unacknowledged.

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“Jewish OPSEU members have tried for many, many months with letters of concern with discrimination complaints against (Union President J.P.) Hornick and the union, hoping for some assistance to combat union antisemitism, and the union’s involvement in promoting antisemitism,” lead counsel David Hager, who is handling the case alongside the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), told the Toronto Sun.

“This was a last resort, the only way that they could try to obtain redress, and perhaps go forward on a positive basis with the union.”

Jewish OPSEU members have been outspoken at the actions of their union since the Oct. 7 attacks, including demanding answers as to why union flags routinely appear at anti-Israel protests, including one rally on Jan. 14 featuring chants supporting the Houthi terrorist group.

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The complaint alleges that OPSEU supports rallies and events where anti-Semitic statements were prominent, Hager said — attributing the issue to a lack of education on the part of union execs.

The complaint also highlights three letters sent to Hornick on Dec. 5, 11 and Feb. 5 expressing concern of the union’s allegedly antisemitic conduct, but she never replied to the complaints.

“In responses by the assistants, OPSEU made it clear that they would take no action,” the complaint reads.

As well, Jewish members were forced to endure anti-Israel flyers, posters and speeches, accusing Israel of conducting a so-called “genocide” against Palestinians during the union’s annual convention in April.

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The complaint also alleges that Jewish OPSEU members were banned from an OPSEU Facebook page for defending themselves.

“You have a certain number of OPSEU members who are very committed to their cause, and have convinced the executive board and Hornick that they should conduct themselves in a certain way,” Hager alleged. “The problem is that the way they are conducting themselves is actually antisemitic.”

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Hager, who is handling the case pro-bono, was praised by Richard Marceau, CIJA’s vice-president of external affairs and general counsel.

“We are incredibly thankful for the services that David Hager is providing and the work he is taking on for these Jewish OPSEU members dealing with such a hostile environment due to their union’s anti-Jewish agenda,” he said.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume

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