April 28, 2024 | Socialist Action
The Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, which has doubled in size over the past two decades, currently with over 180,000 dues-paying members, renewed the mandate of its leftist, social movement-oriented President J.P. Hornick.
Alongside the acclaimed First Vice-President/Treasurer, Laurie Nancedivell, Hornick (they, them) defeated the right wing social democratic challenger Sara Labelle by a count of 607 to 479 votes cast on April 26. The large labour gathering seated more than 2,000 participants, including alternates, observers and solidarity guests.
Policy resolutions came to the floor for debate by delegates only at the last hour of the third day of proceedings. Sentiment in favour of solidarity with the Palestinian people was well organized, bolstered by high quality leaflets, banners and regalia. The cause seemed to enjoy majority support. Unfortunately, a motion to have OPSEU endorse the global campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the Zionist state, to call for an immediate ceasefire, and to demand an end to the genocide unfolding in Gaza fell short of a decisive vote by only a few minutes.
This was no accident. Hardcore Zionists and generally conservative delegates pushed numerous dilatory procedures and parliamentary motions to eat up valuable convention time and to block the much anticipated debate on foreign affairs. As a result, the resolution on Palestine, along with dozens of others on a wide range of subjects, will go to the union’s Executive Board for debate and vote. Due to changes to the Board’s composition held earlier at the region level, the fate of the policy proposals is hard to predict with any certainty.
Many delegates expressed their appreciation for the noticeably more militant and democratic posture inaugurated in OPSEU with the election of Hornick in 2022. Hundreds of delegates were evidently comfortable sporting the Palestinian keffiyeh scarf. At the Socialist Action booth in the “Marketplace” adjoining the convention hall, delegates purchased over $216 in books, booklets, buttons, and dozens of copies of The Red Review. One pro-Palestinian activist applied to join SA.
