This is genocide, stop starving Gaza!

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), Canada’s largest provincial labour federation representing over one million workers, recognizes what is happening in Gaza for what it is: genocide.

Following the October 7 attacks, we called for an immediate ceasefire, the restoration of humanitarian aid, and the safe and immediate return of all hostages and civilians being held without charge. Since then, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more have been wounded, missing, and displaced. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble. Civilians are being starved in what Human Rights Watch now confirms is a deliberate campaign of extermination.

This is not a humanitarian crisis, it is a famine manufactured by the Israeli government. It is not a “conflict” or war: it is colonial violence and genocide.

From the frontlines of the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa to solidarity with workers around the world, Canada’s labour movement has a proud legacy of confronting injustice. That legacy demands we act with the same clarity and courage today.

We endorse Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske’s letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney urging the federal government to move beyond statements and take immediate action. We echo those demands and further call for:

An immediate and permanent arms embargo on Israel

Formal recognition of the State of Palestine by the Canadian government
Sanctions against the Israeli government for violations of international law
An end to Canada’s diplomatic and economic support for Israeli apartheid
Immediate action by the United Nations to formally recognize the genocide in Gaza and to hold Israeli officials accountable through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to which Canada is a signatory, under the Genocide Convention

The international community and several G7 nations are beginning to demand immediate action:

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the United Kingdom will recognize the State of Palestine by September unless Israel takes “substantive steps” toward ending its war on Gaza

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed France’s intention to recognize Palestine as a state
On June 7, 2025, The International Labour Conference recognized Palestine as an Observer state

Canada must respond with similar urgency. Although the Canadian government has publicly denied sending arms to Israel, investigative reports have revealed that Canadian-made weapons parts and military components have continued to flow, often indirectly, into Israel’s war machine.

We join the International Trade Union Confederation to also condemn the violent assault on labour leader Chris Smalls, who was detained and brutalized by Israeli forces aboard the Handala Flotilla. This was not an isolated incident: it is part of a broader campaign to silence dissent and criminalize workers who show solidarity in the face of injustice. Trade unionists fight for more than wages: we fight for justice, dignity, and human rights. Solidarity means speaking out when it matters most.

This is a moment of moral clarity. The OFL calls on labour organizations across the country to join us in demanding immediate and decisive action.

History will remember who had the courage to speak out against injustice, and who chose the comfort of their silence.

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Statement from COPE President Annette Toth on Alberta government’s strike busting

October 29, 2025

Annette Toth, President of the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union (COPE), has released this statement in response to the Government of Alberta’s use of the notwithstanding clause to attack the rights of teachers and to end the teachers’ strike. COPE represents tens of thousands of union workers in both the public and private sector across Canada:

COPE strongly condemns the Government of Alberta and Premier Danielle Smith’s assault on the rights of the striking teachers in Alberta by invoking the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work.

No matter how the Government of Alberta attempts to frame it, this is nothing but an attack on the fundamental rights of teachers who are exercising their rights as workers and doing their part to defend public education and students in Alberta by asking the government to address critical issues that are affecting the educational experience, including class sizes and the need for student support.

By taking this action, the Government of Alberta is also showing they have little regard for workers’ rights in general and would be willing to use this method to attack workers and union members in any sector as they see ﬁt.

Our union, and our tens of thousands of members across the country, stands in solidarity with the teachers in Alberta, and with the Alberta Teachers’ Association, in their continued efforts to defend public education and workers’ rights in the face of a government that has shown little regard for either.

:kc

See original statement

TRUTH, RECONCILIATION AND UNIONS

Next week, Canadians observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day, an important step on the road to remaking colonial relationships with Indigenous peoples.

There's always the risk that putting the date in the calendar will be taken as a sign of mission accomplished, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

In fact, recent moves by the federal and Ontario governments seem to be moving us backward, not forward. Bill C-5 in the House of Commons and Bill 5 in Ontario undermine the constitutional obligation to consult First Nations on natural resource development proposals. Mark Carney, Doug Ford and their governments have disrespected Indigenous peoples and not treated them as equal partners.

The rush to cut, dig and mine wilderness areas — many of which are Treaty territory or subject to land claims — put unions in a difficult position. On the one hand, high-paying jobs for our members would be welcome at this economically uncertain time.

But what of our obligations to support truth and reconciliation? Unions have worked hard on internal equity and being allies of Indigenous peoples. But the words of our land acknowledgements will ring allow if we desert first peoples to sit with governments and corporations to advance their interests rather than those of Indigenous peoples.

On September 30, let us all — individuals and unions — be mindful of the crimes of the past, recommit ourselves to the hard work of reconciliation, and work with and not against the aspirations of Indigenous peoples.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' FIGHT OUR FIGHT

The federal labour board says the Air Canada flight attendants' strike is illegal, that once ordered back to work they have to go. Or else.

But which party is actually defying the law here?

The Supreme Court of Canada has consistently ruled that the ability to bargain a collective agreement and to strike to get one are constitutionally protected.

Great news for Toronto transit and COPE members

Finally, the news for which we've been waiting for so long.

The governments of Canada, Ontario and Toronto jointly announced today that the contract for new TTC subway trains will go to Alstom Transport Canada Inc. in Thunder Bay.

That is good news for members of COPE Local 81 who work at Alstom.

It is also a welcome development for Toronto transit — 55 of the six-car trains will replace aging Line 2 equipment. The other 15 are for the Yonge North and Scarborough subway extensions.

More good unions jobs, fewer transit delays because of equipment breakdowns.