LILLEY: Piccini's grilling of Hahn was perfect, now Hahn must go (2024)

Union boss Fred Hahn was called out as anti-Semitic on Tuesday by David Piccini, Ontario’s Labour Minister. It was the first time that Piccini had met with or spoken to Hahn since taking over the Labour portfolio last September.

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“My door will remain open to your members but you have to stop hating Jews,” Piccini told Hahn.

On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said he wanted to give Piccini a “shout out” for his comments about Hahn.

“This guy has been a bully for 20 years,” Ford said. “His bigoted comments, it’s unacceptable.”

In his exchange with Piccini on Tuesday, Hahn, who is president of CUPE Ontario, said he wasn’t talking about Jews, just criticizing Israel. Don’t believe him. For months, Israel has been an unhealthy obsession for Hahn and Jewish members of CUPE feel threatened.

There have been growing calls for Hahn to resign or be fired over his comments and social media posts.

On Tuesday, CUPE national’s board voted that they had lost confidence in Hahn to carry out his role as national VP and asked him to step down. While technically this wouldn’t impact his role as CUPE Ontario President, it would undermine his position within the union.

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Since early October, Hahn has been under fire for his comments and social media posts regarding the ongoing war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.

“I’m thankful for the power of workers, the power of resistance around the globe. Because Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, Resistance brings progress,” Hahn posted to social media on October 8, 2023.

Hahn was referring to Hamas and their attacks when speaking of resistance. In another post, Hahn posted an image with the slogan, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

When you are posting those kinds of comments immediately after a terrorist attack that killed more than 1,200 people including children, women and the elderly, how else is the public supposed to interpret the remarks other than as supportive of Hamas?

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Hahn has faced criticism not just from Piccini but also from within his own union. A legal complaint via the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario started last fall with 25 complainants, then grew to 80 and now after Hahn’s latest disgraceful post is expected to grow.

Recently, Hahn posted a doctored video showing a diver, looking like it was from the Paris Olympic Games complete with graphics and a play-by-play commentary. The diver had a prominent Star of David tattoo on their shoulder which the video zoomed in on to highlight. As the diver jumped from the board to land in the pool, the scene switched to an explosion, presumably of Gaza.

Hahn reposted someone who called this a masterpiece, sharing the video on his own social media platforms.

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There was outrage and condemnation of the post, but Hahn left the post up for more than a week. Eventually he took it down and issued what some called an apology but truly was not.

“Recently I posted a video on this platform, which I understand caused pain for some who viewed it. I have removed it from my feed because I deeply regret any such reaction,” Hahn wrote.

He regrets their reaction?

How about you regret posting such a horrific video?

Hahn has lost any moral authority to call himself a leader at this point. As you watch the video of Piccini confronting Hahn over his actions and comments of the last few months, it’s clear that Hahn thinks he’s done nothing wrong.

“As a labour leader you’ve got to represent your members,” Piccni told Hahn.

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“I need you to know that I am representing my members and I’m not talking about Jews, I’m talking about the State of Israel,” Hahn replied.

Hahn went on to say that he represents 290,000 workers but the truth is many of them don’t feel comfortable with Hahn’s statements anymore. Locals representing paramedics in the Windsor area has issued statements distancing themselves from Hahn while Local 2977 representing developmental workers near Niagara have done the same.

Air Canada workers represented by CUPE went out of their way to issue a statement that they are not affiliated with CUPE Ontario and don’t support Hahn’s views.

Ford called Hahn a terrible human being. It might sound harsh but given the circ*mstance it is accurate as well.

Hahn’s words and actions are an embarrassment for all of CUPE and the labour movement writ large. The man is unfit for leadership and needs to go, sooner rather than later.

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