Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) Congratulates
Canadian Union of
Postal Workers (CUPW) on Historic 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!
Canadian Union of
Postal Workers (CUPW) on Historic 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!
__,_._,___
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