A new wolf in an old sheep’s clothing

 

The Canadian Jewish Labour Committee past and present

A new spectre has arisen on the pro-Israel Jewish right. And it is all the more dangerous as it purports to sit in the progressive heart of the labour movement in Canada and the United States.

It consists of Jewish union members claiming that they are currently the targets of antisemitism within their respective unions. In Canada, they have coalesced around an organization called the Canadian Jewish Labour Committee (CJLC). They say their mission is “to unite Jewish workers across Canada’s labour movement by fostering inclusion, combatting antisemitism, and championing engagement and solidarity.”

I want to consider how seriously we should take this new group, what its real mission is, and take a look at its historical antecedents.

But first we need to ask what relevance Canada’s labour movement has for the question of Israel-Palestine. Winning hearts and minds is crucial on this issue and unions are influential thought and action leaders. Just under a third of Canada’s workers are covered by a union agreement, totaling 5.3 million people. While union members are diverse in political opinion, they are an audience for the campaigns their unions espouse. Those in and around the labour movement are a significant part of the liberal and progressive portion of Canadians and thus often more receptive to humanitarian arguments.

The name “Jewish Labour Committee” has an old and honourable history. But its present incarnation in Canada bears very little resemblance to the original.

The choice of the name by the current group, which was founded on Labour Day 2024, is no coincidence: The cynical purpose is to present a veneer of progressivism and labour-friendliness. The reality is advocating for Zionism within the labour movement.  (more...)

A new wolf in an old sheep’s clothing