I’m a member of CUPE Local 79. This week, I was prevented from raising the Hot Cargo Kills campaign at my membership meeting.
The campaign calls on organized labour to impose an arms embargo by refusing to handle goods destined for the Israeli military.
I shared my motion to adopt this campaign with the Local 79 president and executive weeks before the membership meeting.
I requested the motion be shared with the entire membership ahead of the meeting to maximize democratic discussion and allow for an educated vote.
Local 79 president, Nastaran Yadollahi (who claims to be pro-Palestinian) refused to share it.
Less than an hour before the meeting, the membership secretary called to discourage me from raising it.
I was told: even if the motion passed, “nothing would come of it”. That “the Ontario Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress conventions are just for show and would only act in an emergency”.
I responded: the genocide of an entire people is an emergency. I was told I could raise it under “new business” at the end of the meeting.
After 3 hours on Zoom, we reached “new business”. I immediately raised my hand. Another person did too.
The president, Nastaran Yadollahi – who knew I was going to raise the motion – cut “new business” and moved on.
I kept my hand up and asked why. I was simply told “we’ve moved on”. Yet, the other person with their hand raised was allowed to speak.
This is a gross violation of democracy and active sabotage of the fight to end the genocide.
The suppression of rank and file democracy is a poison in the labour movement. It’s how labour leaders who refuse to act hold on to their positions.
Their refusal to fight oppression abroad is mirrored by their refusal to fight austerity at home.
It is a refusal that stems from their inability to break with the status quo under capitalism.
-Renu B., Toronto
