***Action Alert***
ÃÂ
Support CUPE Ontarios stand for
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions!
Support the Palestinian call to Isolate Apartheid Israel!
This weekend, CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) Ontario approved resolution 50 supporting “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.”
The Palestinian grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign thanks CUPE Ontario for their support and brave decision.
The resolution passed with overwhelming support at the largest provincial convention in the union’s history, held May 24-27 in Ottawa, Canada. Over 900 delegates from CUPE locals across Ontario attended the convention. CUPE represents about 200,000 public sector workers in Ontario and is the largest public sector union in the province. This resolution is part of a growing global campaign initiated on July 9, 2005 by over 170 Palestinian organizations, including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS)
against Israel.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (endapartheid@riseup.net) is coordinating support for CUPE.
We ask you to respond to their call for action:
Please contact the leadership of CUPE Ontario and support this decision. A sample letter can be found below.
Messages to CUPE Ontario can be sent to:
Sid Ryan, President CUPE Ontario: sryan@cupe.on.ca
CUPE Ontario Executive Members akirby@cupe.on.ca
Katherine Nastovski, Chair, CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee knastov@yahoo.com
Trade Unions, clergy and community organizations, should call upon their members and congregants to contact CUPE Ontario and support this decision.
Please forward this note to your distribution lists.
Full Text of the Resolution:
CUPE ONTARIO WILL:
1. With Palestine solidarity and human rights organizations, develop an education campaign about the apartheid nature of the Israeli state and the political and economic support of Canada
for these practices.
2. 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 resolution194.
3. Call on CUPE National to commit to research into Canadian involvement in the occupation and call on the CLC to join us in lobbying against the apartheid-like practices of the Israeli state and call for the immediate dismantling of the wall.
BECAUSE:
– The Israeli Apartheid Wall has been condemned and determined illegal under international law.
– Over 170 Palestinian political parties, unions and other organizations including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions issued a call in July 2005 for a global campaign of
boycotts and divestment against Israel similar to those imposed against South African Apartheid;
– CUPE BC has firmly and vocally condemned the occupation of Palestine and have initiated an
education campaign about the apartheid-like practices of the Israeli state.
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Sample letter
To whom it may concern
I wish to express my profound gratitude to CUPE Ontario for passing Resolution 50 in support of the global campaign against Israeli Apartheid.
Only the grossly uninformed or misinformed can fail to comprehend the inexcusable suffering that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people for nearly six decades. For the sake of all of humanity, it must end.
Again, I commend your courage and principle. Rest assured, the vast majority of thinking Canadians who want to see a peaceful world stand with you.
Most certainly you will come under great pressure from the pro-Israel lobby to reverse your decision. Please stand firm for justice and International Law.