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Opinion: Anti-Zionist activists are hijacking Canadian unions

Instead of protecting jobs and bargaining power, anti-Zionist activists are steering Canadian unions into divisive foreign boycotts

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Many Canadians are already struggling with rising costs and job insecurity. Now, a radical group is pushing unionized workers to join a campaign that is likely to add even more pressure on Canadian workplaces and livelihoods, to advance a foreign political agenda.

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That campaign is called “hot cargo.” It is being driven by Labour for Palestine Canada (also known as Labour4Palestine and L4P) a pan-Canadian network of union activists. They are not a formal union or a registered entity, but a coalition of people and interest groups operating through coordinated messaging and actions.

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“Hot cargo” began as a labour-law issue in 1949, when workers refused to handle goods tied to a labour dispute in protest of unfair treatment of their colleagues. It is a union tactic where workers refuse to handle certain goods tied to a dispute they deem unfair or morally unacceptable.

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Over time, this tactic has been repurposed for broader ideological boycotts that stray far from protecting co‑workers. Today, it runs against the core interests of workers and the purpose of unions themselves, seeking to drag unions into foreign boycotts.

L4P situates itself within broader anti-imperialist and anti-Israel activism. On October 7, L4P declared “full solidarity” with Palestinians entering a “new stage of resistance.” Today, L4P is pushing the Canadian Labour Congress to adopt a national “hot cargo” resolution against the State of Israel, which, according to Jeff Shantz, writing on the far-left website Media Co-op, is also meant to impose economic costs on Canada.

“Hot cargo” is anti-Canadian, runs against democratic values and is ultimately anti-worker.

First, it is inherently selective. The same standard is not applied consistently to goods from other countries with well-documented human rights abuses. There are no comparable calls to block imports from Bangladesh, Vietnam, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Mexico. Instead, the focus is placed on one country, Israel.

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Second, “hot cargo” campaigns are divisive, pushing unions to spend members’ dues on a polarizing foreign policy issue, instead of pressing labour and workplace issues.

Third, it is economically dangerous. At a time of uncertainty and technological change, unions should be upskilling workers, protecting jobs, and strengthening bargaining power. This campaign is likely to do the opposite: it could reduce workers’ leverage and disrupt supply chains — further threatening jobs across Canada and undermining growth.

Despite this, L4P has had success influencing union leadership and advancing resolutions at conventions, recruiting union members, organizing and co-organizing labour movement speaker events.

L4P builds networks across unions through union caucuses, “educational” sessions, speeches at union events expanding its reach and influence over union policy. At conventions, they are given spaces to run “international solidarity” booths and distribute ideologically driven materials. They also advance boycott and divestment campaigns that target Canadian pensions, procurement and local businesses.

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The result is a growing-in-power entity, accountable to no one, deeply embedded within the labour movement, erasing lines between representing workers and advancing external political-ideological agendas. And they don’t do this alone. L4P’s broader network includes numerous aligned organizations, reinforced by an activist network built on shared ideology, and in some cases, overlapping leadership.

For example, Mohammed (Moe) Alqasem, a former vice president of CUPE Ontario is also a L4P member. He has been involved with the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), a group that celebrated the October 7 massacre.

Hassan Husseini, a member of the National Steering Committee of Labour for Palestine Canada, also held a role in the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and is a former president of the Ottawa CUPE District Council. Husseini justified Hamas’ actions the day after October 7 in a response to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) on X, writing, “It is called liberation of stolen land, stupid!!!” Husseini has posted extremist material, including denying October 7 sexual violence, to the extent that Jewish PSAC members have raised concerns.

L4P publicly backs the Canadian BDS Coalition, a group dedicated to anti-Israel activities that has expressed support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). L4P has also called to “honour Khader Adnan,” a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Both the IRGC and PIJ are listed as terrorist entities in Canada. L4P has previously shared events involving Samidoun and publicly defended the group following its terrorist entity designation.

L4P activist James Hutt has proudly presented his mother‑in‑law, Khalida Jarrar, former senior PFLP member and ex‑prisoner, as a model of “continuous resistance.” This “resistance” framework is what L4P is working to embed in Canada.

L4P offers legal referral services which help provide legal support to anti-Israeli activists.

Like others in this network, L4P leans heavily on Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) to give the illusion of a “Jewish” stamp of approval.

The “hot cargo” campaign is taking off in unions across provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

L4P’s push for a “hot cargo” resolution at the upcoming Canadian Labour Congress convention in May 2026, backed by a letter-writing campaign, suggests the intent to scale this strategy across the entire labour movement. With multiple provincial federations already on board, L4P is ready to target the national stage.

L4P’s actions, however, ultimately erode union solidarity. Importing international conflicts into union spaces creates division, fuels tension and makes workplaces hostile and unsafe for some members. “Hot cargo” campaigns target the very workers unions claim to represent.

L4P is an organized effort that steers unions away from labour issues and toward an international political agenda. They use unions to reshape the future of Canada’s economy, trade and its foreign policy around a radical ideological framework, all at the expense of members.

The 80-year-old Rand Formula no longer fits today’s reality. Introduced in 1946 to ensure funding for representation and protection of Canadian workers, it forces employees covered by a collective agreement to pay union dues. With today’s radical shift in union activities, members are left with little to no ability to opt out or redirect their dues away from supporting ideologies, including those L4P peddles.

To solve this, Canada needs its elected officials to act urgently: either dues are mandatory with unions required to focus solely on domestic labour issues, or dues must be optional. Otherwise, the future of Canada and its economy will be increasingly shaped by radical networks like Labour for Palestine rather than by the Canadian workers who pay the bills.

Ori Freiman Ph.D., specializes in policy and technology and is a union member.

Lauren Frenkel is a health care provider and union member.

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