Canadian Union of Postal Workers Passes Boycott Resolution

Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA)Congratulates
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)
on Momentous Boycott Resolution!

16 April 2008

CAIA extends its warm congratulations to the delegates
of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers national
convention held in Ottawa, Canada, April 13-17th 2008.
At the convention, CUPW passed an historic resolution,
Resolution 338/339, in support of the global campaign
of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli
Apartheid.

This resolution is an extremely significant landmark
for the Palestinian solidarity movement in Canada. It
represents the first time in North American history
that a national union has passed a BDS resolution. The
resolution recognizes Israel as an apartheid state and
expresses CUPW's support for boycott and divestment
from Israel. It was passed almost unanimously after
nearly one hour of discussion on the convention floor.

CUPW represents more than 50,000 postal workers across
Canada and has been at the forefront of campaigns
against privatization and deregulation at Canada Post.
The union has a proud history of international
solidarity. During the South African apartheid years,
CUPW was at the forefront of labour solidarity with
South African workers and engaged in concrete actions
such as the refusal to handle mail from South Africa.

The CUPW resolution was modeled on Resolution 50 of
the Canadian Union of Public Employees (Ontario),
which was passed in May 2006 and re-affirmed in 2007.
The resolution commits CUPW to "support the
international campaign of BDS until Israel meets its
obligations 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 lands as stipulated in UN
Resolution 194."

The resolution states that CUPW will work "… with
Palestinian solidarity and human rights organizations
to develop an educational campaign about the apartheid
nature of the Israeli state and the political and
economic support of Canada for these practices." The
resolution also calls on the Canadian government to
increase humanitarian aid to Palestinians who have
been affected by the conflict, and commits CUPW to
research on Canadian involvement in the occupation.

CAIA congratulates CUPW on this vital show of support
for Palestinian workers and their families. At a time
when the Palestinian people are suffering under brutal
siege and daily bombardment this resolution is an
important show of solidarity. Today alone, 22
Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were
killed by Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. The
explicit recognition by yet another Canadian union
that Israel is an apartheid state, deserving of
international isolation and boycott in the manner of
South African Apartheid, is an inspiration for the
North American and international labour movements. It
is one further confirmation that the Israeli apartheid
regime has deservedly become a pariah for progressive
movements across the globe.

We call on supporters across the world to take the
following action in support of CUPW:

1) Immediately email and fax the CUPW National office
congratulating them on their stand against Israeli
apartheid (sample letter below). Please fax your
letter of support to CUPW National Office at ++ (613)
563-7861 or email endapartheid@riseup.net and we will
pass them on to the CUPW national officeholders.

2) If you are a member of a union then get involved!
Please contact the CAIA Labour Committee, Labour for
Palestine, at labour@caiaweb.org for ideas and ways to
get involved in Palestinian solidarity work within
your workplace and union.

3) Visit your local post office and thank the workers
for this resolution! Let them know that you appreciate
this show of solidarity with Palestine.

**************************************************
Sample letter

Dear CUPW-Executive:

Thank you for passing the resolution to support the
campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against
Israel.

Like South Africa, Israel will have to be subjected to
intense international pressure before it recognizes
Palestinians as a people with the right to
self-determination. Your union played a critical role
in the fight against South African Apartheid – it is
wonderful to see you taking on this leadership role
again in the fight against Israeli Apartheid.

No doubt you will come under intense pressure from
pro-Israeli, pro-apartheid organizations to reverse
this courageous decision, but rest assured that the
overwhelming majority of people in the world are not
fooled by right-wing, racist rhetoric and the
mainstream media bias surrounding this issue.

Thank you again!

************

__,_._,___