Fred Hahn, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario, has firmly rejected allegations of antisemitism and declined calls for his resignation from the national executive board. The controversy stems from a recent Facebook post shared by Hahn, which depicted an Olympic diver with a Star of David transforming into a bomb falling on civilians.
Read: CUPE Board Demands Fred Hahn To Resign Over Offensive Video
The CUPE National Executive Board passed a motion expressing lost confidence in Hahn, who serves as the national union’s general vice-president. Hahn defended his actions in a letter to Ontario union members, citing the organization’s history of solidarity with Palestinians and asserting that advocates for the Palestinian cause are often unfairly labeled as antisemitic.
This incident follows previous contentious social media activity by Hahn, including a post about the “Power of resistance” shortly after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. These actions led to dozens of CUPE members filing a human rights complaint against the union, alleging systemic discrimination and promotion of antisemitism.
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Hahn was re-elected as CUPE Ontario’s president this year, a position he has held since 2010. He expressed disappointment in the national board’s decision, describing it as unprecedented and potentially setting a concerning precedent for union members active in Palestinian solidarity efforts.
“I cherish the cause of working people, the work we all do together fighting for justice here and around the globe. The power of our democracy deserves respect. It’s why I’m both so sad and so angry. Trade unionists I have come to know and respect voted this week to overturn the democratic decisions of CUPE members,” he wrote.
“It is unprecedented in our union’s history and I’m worried countless CUPE members who are active in the Palestinian solidarity movement could be left more vulnerable and exposed by the precedent as they face similar situations at work.”
Kathryn Marshall, the lawyer representing the members of the union who submitted the complaint, said in a post on X that they are “disappointed, but not surprised.”
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