The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) – Canada's largest labor federation representing about three million workers – announced Thursday, Oct. 29, that its members will refuse to handle weapons and military equipment destined for Israel, according to a statement released by the organization.
The resolution marks a significant shift in the federation's policy and signals a direct challenge to Canada's military export practices. In the statement, the CLC said it supported the resolution in solidarity with Palestinian workers and their families and with those calling for peace, justice and respect for international law. The union also demanded that the government of Canada end all direct and indirect transfers of arms and military equipment to Israel.
The CLC's move follows months of internal debate and external pressure from pro-Palestinian advocacy groups. The announcement places the federation at the center of a growing debate over Canada's role in supplying military goods to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Union Resolution and Stated Rationale
The CLC said Canada has a responsibility to ensure weapons and military equipment produced in the country are not used to harm Palestinian civilians or contribute to violations of international humanitarian law. The union stated that Canada must uphold international law, protect civilian lives and support a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
The resolution also emphasized that the labor movement has stood for the rights, safety and dignity of working people everywhere and rejects all forms of hatred and discrimination, including antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia. The CLC framed its decision as consistent with a broader history of labor activism on international human rights issues.
The resolution follows a May vote by the CLC to cut ties with the Histadrut, Israel's trade union. According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Labor and Society, CLC ties with the Histadrut began to fray after the First Intifada. The decision to sever ties with the Histadrut was seen as a precursor to the current resolution on military cargo.
Advocacy Groups Welcome Vote
Labour for Palestine - Canada, which has campaigned to ban the handling of military shipments to Israel, said Canadian workers helped end apartheid in South Africa, supported East Timorese liberation and took a stand against war in Iraq. The group said now is the time to take a stand for Palestine.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East hailed the vote in a post on X, calling it an important way that workers can prevent Canadian weapons from facilitating genocide. The group's statement reflects a growing alignment between labor unions and social justice movements on the issue.
Independent Jewish Voices said the move is a clear message that Canadian laborers refuse to be complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the group. The endorsement from these advocacy groups underscores the resolution's significance beyond the labor movement.
Canadian Arms Exports Under Scrutiny
Middle East Eye reported last year that the Canadian government misled the public when it said it was pausing all new weapons export permits to Israel. According to findings compiled by the Palestinian Youth Movement, World Beyond War and Arms Embargo Now, commercially available data showed shipments continued and were sometimes fast-tracked through indirect routes such as the United States.
The groups stated that Ottawa sought to placate an electorate dissatisfied with the Liberal Party's response to Israel's war on Gaza without reversing its policy of support for Israel. The allegations have intensified calls for greater transparency in Canada's arms export controls.
A 58-page document titled "Exposing Canadian Military Exports to Israel" cites more than 390 shipments from 21 Canadian manufacturers in six cities. According to the findings, these shipments included more than 420,000 bullets, 735 cartridge parts, F-35 jet parts such as navigation sensors and radar systems, and dual-use items such as GPS antennas. Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the country's foreign ministry, said it exported more than $44 million in military goods to Israel between 2023 and 2025.
Conclusion
The CLC resolution calls on the Canadian government to end all direct and indirect transfers of arms and military equipment to Israel and cites international law and civilian protection. The vote is the latest development in a debate over Canadian military exports to Israel.
GAC reported more than $44 million in military goods exported between 2023 and 2025. The CLC's decision to refuse handling military cargo destined for Israel adds a new dimension to this debate, with potential implications for Canada's defense industry and its international standing.
Reference
- Canada's central labour union says workers will not handle military cargo going to Israel. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/canadas-central-labour-union-says-workers-will-not-handle-military-cargo-going-israel
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