CUPE Gets Political – Sid Ryan Boycotts Academics From Israel
CUPE is the Canadian Union of Public Employees that represents over 500 000 public employees across Canada. They have made headlines recently when the CUPE sector (CUPE 3903) representing the Teaching Assistants and many professors went on strike and displaced 50 000 students at Toronto’s York University.
If the outrage against CUPE, from this ongoing strike, is not enough, Sid Ryan, President of CUPE in Ontario, certainly decided to make matters worse. Tarnishing his own reputation and what was left of CUPE’s, Ryan released a press statement calling for a ban of any Israeli academics from speaking, teaching, or doing research work at Ontario universities. The only way Israelis can gain or retain employment is if they condemn the recent Israeli attack on the Islamic University in Gaza. On December 29th, Israel conducted an air strike on this university as part of their campaign to destroy the Hamas terrorist organization. Ryan then said that Israel is acting in the same manner as the Nazis by attacking an institution of learning. This ban on Israelis from campuses across the province will have a preliminary vote in February and if a majority is received, a final vote will be held in May.
HAS HE LOST HIS MIND?
Before we go any further, the fact still remains that the Islamic University was a suspected arms depot for Hamas. This technique of using civilian locations as storage depots for weapons has been used many times by Hamas in the past, in apartment buildings, mosques, and schools. Sid Ryan DOES NOT know whether or not this school was an arms depot but he certainly wasted no time in making his ludicrous proposal, punishing Israel’s actions before they were proven guilty.
I would be surprised if this does not cost him his job. Sid Ryan equating Israel to the Nazis has infuriated people across the country and he has already received thousands of angry emails and calls. Aside from that, he is breaking the main belief his organization stands for – freedom of speech. Unions were made to give a voice to the people. They were not made to take away the voices of people. Ryan is proposing a violation of the fundamental freedoms set forth to us as Canadians in our Charter of Rights. By imposing his own asinine beliefs on potential Israeli employees, Ryan is forcing Israelis to sacrifice their own thoughts, beliefs and opinions. This is against section 2 of our Charter. In addition, he is discriminating individuals on the basis of their nationality which is against the equality section (15) in our Charter.
CUPE is not a political organization. They represent union workers and have no right to voice such discriminatory opinions. Israeli professors working here have a plethora of knowledge to share with students and CUPE’s call for a ban does nothing more than impede a student’s ability to a full and professional education. Furthermore, the personal opinions and beliefs of professors are not relevant unless the professor seeks to impose them on his or her students. All that matters is that the professor does their job and maintains a level of excellence that is expected from university instructors.
If I were in a position to do so, I would “kindly” ask Sid Ryan to resign immediately. He is threatening to violate the rights given to us as Canadian citizens and is using his position as a stepping stone to make public his clearly discriminatory and often anti-Semitic hidden agenda.
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January 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
beyond pathetic..
January 7th, 2009 at 10:02 am
The last time we looked we thought this was Canada. We do not appreciate Mr. Ryan speaking on our behalf.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
This is beyond ridiculous. An Israeli professor teaching in Ontario has nothing to do with the operation in Gaza happening on the other side of the world. I hope Ryan loses his job over this.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
You know I think Sid is one of those”national Socialists’ He is just testing the waters I expect,before launching the 4th reich…..
Although I am confused. He used to hang with Gerry Adams ,the ira leader/murderer. so is he more a stalinist?
Its no suprise he backs the more murderous types of organization though. Birds of a feather.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Sid Ryan is doing exactly what terrorists want , playing right into their hands . I dont think he is very bright
January 8th, 2009 at 1:04 am
Sid Ryan needs to resign. NOW. His remarks are bigoted, one-sided and uninformed. He represents public employees. He is not a military analyst. It is insulting to Israel’s intelligence capacity – and it truly shows how ill-informed he is about the issues occurring in the middle east. Is he aware that maps that are distributed in school systems throughout the middle east often have Israel blacked out? Does he understand how all aggression toward Israel is motivated by Anti-Semitic hate? Does he understand his ludicrous and bigoted proposal implicate him for spreading hate propaganda? Has he suggested that all individuals coming from countries experiencing human right’s violations not express views at Universities in Canada.
SID RYAN RESIGN – you are in a prominent position of leadership, you have NO RIGHT to be addressing issues that are above and beyond your role as representative of public employees.
January 8th, 2009 at 1:51 am
I am glad to see that people agree with my post. What Sid Ryan is doing is beyond wrong. It will be interesting to see how Jack Layton deals with this situation. If he wants his party to keep the momentum and professional image it gained in our last election, he will most likely have to fire Sid Ryan (who has been a member of the NDP for around 20 years). If he allowed Ryan to run for MP or MPP, it would deal a heavy blow to the party’s reputation.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Not enough is said about the masterminds behind the miniminds at hamas.The saudi’s and the weird twisted version of islam coupled with ‘socialism’ in Iran have much to answer for.
January 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
in 1948 the Arabs invaded Israel with 9 Armies , the world said nothing.
in 1956 Egypt blockaded anything from coming into Israel, there was no civilian outcry.
in 1967 The Arab countries attack Israel once more, not a word said across the world.
In 1973 the Arabs attack Israel during the most holiest day to the Jews, not a peep from the world.
In 1982 Jordanians kill 25000 Palestinians and force the PLO to make a new front in Lebanon which then sparked another war against Israel……not a word from anyone.
Over 1 million Jewish refugees from Arab countries, 2 intifadas, Destruction of Ancient Jewish sites(Josephs tomb http://www.geocities.com/rachav/Josephtmbv11.jpg),
killing of Jews and Israelis that have nothing to do with anything all around the world ……..no one cares or notices anything…..
Israel decides that the Arab governments wont stop terrorist attacks so goes in and deals with it herself …. HUGGEEEE PUBLIC OUTCRY OH MY LORD WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TO ISRAEL IS ILEGALY OCCUPYING TERRITORY FROM PEACEFUL NEIGHBORS FOR NO REASON AT ALL THIS IS AN OUTRAGE WE HAVE TO BOYCOTT ISRAEL AND ANYONE THAT SUPPORTS ISRAEL MUST BE KILLED.
Ive been to Israel, while I was in Haifa( port town in northern Israel) I’ve seen Muslims Jews, Christians and Bahia all living together peacefully in this one City. I cant stand Canadians who give any credibility to Hamas or try and hear them out. They dont want to live in peace , what they want and said is that they wont stop fighting until every Israeli is dead. They want to take Israel and make it a Strict Muslim country much like Saudi Arabia is. Sharia law will be instilled on its citizens and there will be heavy restrictions on all religions. The Palestinians must choose a government that is able to work with Israel that will produce a peace plan not war.
January 9th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Please sign the petition to Jack Layton to denounce Sid Ryan:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SidRyanOut/
January 9th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Good for him! I’m glad to see some people with cahones still have a role in this country. Israel is now rogue and needs to be put in it’s place, and all of the shrieking and spitting from the “Jewish community” doesn’t help make it any better.
You should take notice that many Canadians are now seriously disturbed by the actions of Israel. It’s better off on it’s own now to deal with it’s indefensible actions.
Frankly I’m seriously sick of leaders from this country defending cowards in Israel.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Derek honestly shut up, when you live through what the Israeli people lived through everday then you can have a say. Im sick of ignorant Canadians like YOU who don’t know smack about history and what’s going on in those countries all you see are false numbers and the bullshit hamas feeds you and that’s how you judge who is the “bad guy”. Sid Ryan should be fired from his job for his discriminatory comments which he should’ve kept to himself. The only way Canadian people will understand (like the Americans did) is when they get attacked and JUST HAVE A FEELING of what people go through everyday. Im sorry to say that’s the reality of it… go on defend terrorists
January 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Derek, there are thousands of Arabs living in Israel and studying in Israeli universities. Israel is not against Palestinian or Arab education, unlike what Ryan wants you to believe. I urge you to open your mind and keep learning about the situation.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
You’re right Bill. I’d like to see more accountability and international pressure on Iran to stop funding organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
This little dweeb needs to have his espresso machine unplugged. I bet he has not done a stich of hard work in his life. He comes to Canada with his anti establishment slant , let me guess , he was pro i.r.a. as well , go back to ireland you little academic leprichaun
January 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
[...] resolution. CUPE National president, Paul Moist, released a statement on January 13th calling Sid Ryan’s proposal wrong and discriminatory. “As the national president of Canada’s largest union, with over [...]
January 17th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
[...] that peace replace violence in Gaza via submission to terrorist ideology. The many well meaning? union organizations whose stance for justice and peace rely on condemning Israel, the anti-semites who protest at [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Hey we would boycott Islamic scholars and Nobel prize winners too………except too bad there are none……the muslim/arabs in universities today are spending all their time creating boycotts, and marches….so they are not learning anything…..and still have no clue of REAL history besides what they learn at terrorist training camps…
February 16th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Hey Derek, Israel is now “Rogue” Oh reallY?? A member of the U.N, a close ally of AMerica, a close advisor/observer of Nato, a nuclear power, a small country that has given more good to this world then all the arab/muslim countries combined you call rogue?
You are a serious ignoramus with no grasp of history, and what these muslims/arabs really want.
Whos gonna put ISrael in her place?? YOU?? Hahaah, Id like to see you try you homo who is in love with Sid Ryan.
Sid Ryan is now an embarrassment to Canada, his family, himself, and over 87% of CUPE members want him gone.
You may be one of only 3 people who agree witht he guy, becuse over 25 presidents of Universities have shot him down.
I guess its true what they say, losers stick with losers.
Have fun Derek.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Prescription Drugs – Esgic Plus…
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