Hug your Letter Carrier: CUPW Weighs in for Justice and Peace in Israel-Palestine.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Toni MacAfee. MacAfee is the Education/Organization Officer for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Atlantic Region. CUPW is 54,000 members strong, and is represented in every Canadian community with a post office. CUPW recently passed "Resolution 338/339", which deals with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Among other points, Resolution 338/339 calls for the support of the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, until Israel 'recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and complies with international law including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes as stipulated in UN resolution 194'.

Having passed this resolution, CUPW will now 'examine its own investments, ensuring that none are in Israeli companies. They will also implement a policy to ensure that none of the products that CUPW purchases are made by Israeli companies, and will encourage all levels of the union to participate in this campaign.'

In Fortress Canada, where the official line out of Ottawa is unconditional support for Israel, CUPW's stance is an almost radical act. But, as MacAfee explains, CUPW is no stranger to the global struggle.

"The activist side of CUPW comes from postal workers who were active in the 1970s and 80s. Our education programs focus not just on postal workers' rights, but human rights, women's rights. Our struggle is global and we need to be using our collective strength for global justice."

"CUPW has always been considered a militant union. We've shut down bridges, not allowed planes to land when we've been striking. It's a history we're proud of."

MacAfee hands me the CUPW National Constitution. She leafs through the volume, pointing out CUPW's national policies on Cuba, Colombia, nuclear energy, pollution, and a variety of other issues. I ask her how CUPW, ostensibly a union for postal workers, finds itself looking globally, and in this instance taking a stand for peace in Israel-Palestine.

"In this case CUPW was responding to a call made in 2005 by, among others, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, for a global campaign of boycott and divestment against Israel. Our members asked for us to respond."

Resolution 338/339 also calls on 'other Canadian unions to lobby against the apartheid-like practices of the Israeli state.' I ask MacAfee whether any other Canadian unions have answered that call with similar resolutions.

"CUPW is the first national Canadian union to respond, but we are joined by unions all over the world. CUPE in Ontario has joined, two unions in Quebec have joined, including the Federation of Labour, and the PEI Federation of Labour has also joined. It is slowly gaining momentum."

MacAfee is also a member of the steering committee that is organizing next spring's Canadian Boat to Gaza. The boat will be part of an international flotilla heading to Gaza to deliver aid, and break Israel's illegal blockade. The boat will also play the role of mail carrier, as MacAfee explains.

"Israel has stopped allowing mail to be delivered to Gaza. Israel's official statement blames a Gazan employee of the postal service for this disruption in service, and at the moment all mail to Gaza is now being 'returned to sender'. As postal workers especially, we know the importance of mail, and stopping the mail is just another form of isolation. CUPW has endorsed the Canadian Boat to Gaza, and we will be delivering postcards to Gaza." 

"CUPW participated in a conference held in Montreal to address the boycott, divestment and sanctions. One of the speakers at the conference was the President of Congress of South African Trade Unions. He had visited Palestine, and had lived under apartheid in South Africa. When he said that Israel is an apartheid state, we listened."