CLC 2026 Convention Breaks with Zionist Histadrut
By Julius Arscott, NUPGE delegate
Over 2,250 delegates representing workers across the country attended the triennial Canadian Labour Congress convention, May 11-15, in Winnipeg. The convention acclaimed an uncontested slate of very uninspiring incumbent top officers. UNIFOR, Canada’s largest private sector union, was absent as it has not been affiliated with the house of labour since 2018 due to a dispute over inter-union member ‘raiding’.
Palestine solidarity activists, many active with Labour for Palestine (L4P), were prominently present.
Heading into the convention, L4P advanced the “Hot Cargo” campaign where workers refuse to handle Israeli or Israel-bound weapons and cargo. They urged the CLC to break ties with Israel’s Histadrut, a so-called labour central that has been complicit in genocide and colonization in Palestine since the 1920s. Resolutions calling for “Hot Cargo” measures were adopted at union and provincial federation conventions. Zionists agitated across the corporate media to exert pressure on the CLC Resolutions Committee and the Canada Council, the CLC’s leading body. As a result, the Hot Cargo resolution—including language calling for an end to relations with the Histadrut—was tagged with a ‘non-concurrence’ designation, effectively killing debate. The main Zionist argument claimed the CLC cannot order affiliates to take action—a straw man if ever there was one as similar resolutions are routinely submitted.
L4P led the fight for democracy. Activists collected over 4,500 signatures from union members via an online petition asking the Canada Council to grant concurrence. The resolution was endorsed by 11 union bodies, including NUPGE (the CLC’s largest component), the Ontario Federation of Labour, CUPW, and many labour councils. Still, it was denied concurrence.
Through persistent organizing and navigating complex procedural rules, delegates overwhelmingly supported adding language to cut ties with Histadrut. Delegates then successfully amended a status quo Palestine solidarity resolution initiated by the Canada Council to include the same demand which gained 80 - 90% support after open debate.
The CLC delegates voted overwhelmingly for the amended resolution, thus cutting ties with the Histadrut—a labour body complicit in anti-Palestinian colonization since the 1920s. While not gaining a “Hot Cargo” declaration, this historic victory mirrors labour’s stance during South African apartheid. It could not have happened without the tireless work of L4P activists in unions, workplaces, and on the convention floor.
A resolution on Cuba was adopted with overwhelming support. Dany Tur de la Concepción, Deputy Head of Mission of the Cuban Embassy in Canada, was introduced to delegates and welcomed with tremendous applause. The adopted resolution calls on the CLC to demand Canada take immediate action to support the Cuban people, exert diplomatic efforts to end the U.S. blockade on oil and other vital resources, and publicly reaffirm Canada’s commitment to sovereignty, non-intervention, and self-determination. The CLC committed to undertake solidarity campaigns with Cuban workers and unions, make a financial contribution to the Canadian Network on Cuba, and encourage affiliates to build solidarity with the Cuban people.
While this international solidarity is encouraging, delegate attempts to launch mass action, including general strikes, against back-to-work legislation and Carney’s austerity agenda were thwarted by the leadership.
Days after the convention, reports surfaced that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is exploring changes to the federal Labour code to designate Build Canada projects as an ‘essential service’ and banning federal public sector workers and those in ‘emergency’ economic areas from going on strike. This attack can only be defeated by a mass mobilization led by organized labour, not quiet government lobbying.
The “Capitalism Can’t Be Fixed” campaign booth attracted many friendly delegates. It became a hub for leftist activists, receiving several hundred dollars in booklet and button sales and gathering scores of new contacts.