Jewish trade unionists file a human rights complaint against OPSEU

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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 creating a hostile environment for its Jewish members.

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Filed Oct. 7 in the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the complaints detail patterns of alleged problematic behavior Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and its officials since the October Hamas terrorist attacks, which resulted, as the complaint describes, in failing to ensure that the union did not discriminate against members of Jewish descent.

“Immediately following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, OPSEU began to promote unbalanced and biased views about Israel and created a culture of fear, discrimination and prejudice against Jewish members of OPSEU,” states the complaint, a copy of which was viewed by Toronto Sun.

Invitations to OPSEU issued by Toronto Sun because the comment was left unacknowledged.

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“Jewish members of OPSEU have been trying for many, many months to send letters expressing concern about discrimination complaints against (Union President JP) Hornick and the union, hoping for some help in combating union anti-Semitism and the union's involvement in promoting anti-Semitism,” general counsel David Hagera, which is leading the case with the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), he said Toronto Sun.

“It was a last resort, the only way they could try to get redress and maybe engage positively with the union.”

Jewish members of OPSEU have been speaking out about their union's actions since the Oct. 7 attacks, demanding, among other things, why union flags routinely appear at anti-Israel protests, including one rally on Jan. 14 that included chants of support for the Houthi terrorist group.

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Hager said the complaint accuses OPSEU of supporting rallies and events where anti-Semitic speech is prevalent, attributing the issue to a lack of education on the part of union leadership.

The complaint also highlights three letters sent to Hornick on Dec. 5, 11 and Feb. 5 expressing concern about the union's allegedly anti-Semitic behavior, but she never responded to the complaints.

“In the OPSEU assistants' responses, he made it clear that he would not take any action,” the complaint says.

Jewish members were also forced to endure anti-Israel leaflets, posters and speeches accusing Israel of carrying out so-called “genocide” against Palestinians during the union's annual convention in April.

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The complaint also accused Jewish members of OPSEU of being banned from using the OPSEU Facebook page for self-defense.

“You have a number of OPSEU members who are very committed to their cause and have convinced the board and Hornick that they should proceed in a certain way,” Hager stated. “The problem is that the way they are behaving is actually anti-Semitic.”

Hager, who is handling the case pro bono, praised, among others, Richard Marceau, vice president of external affairs and general counsel of CIJA.

“We are incredibly grateful for the service David Hager provides and the work he does on behalf of Jewish members of OPSEU who must navigate such a hostile environment due to their union's anti-Jewish agenda,” he said.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume

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