5. Donald Lafleur sets
the record straight in letter to CLC President Yussuff
In September, Canadian Labour Congress Vice
President Donald Lafleur attended the Third
International Trade Union Forum in Solidarity with Syrian Workers, in Damascus.
While there, he criticized the sanctions that the United States and its NATO
allies, including Canada, have imposed against the Syrian people. In response, CLC
President Hassan Yussuff publicly criticized Lafleur and placed him on administrative leave from his
elected responsibilities.
In contrast to the CLC leadership’s efforts to throw Lafleur
under the “Opportunism Express” bus, a group of progressive trade unionists
took a more upright approach – they launched a campaign to get labour organizations to send letters to the CLC,
encouraging the Canadian union central to defend Lafleur
and, in the process, take a stand for peace and international solidarity. This
campaign has received endorsement from many progressives across Canada and in
the United States.
Lafleur’s disciplinary case will soon be heard by the CLC’s Executive Council and
Canadian Council. In anticipation of these meetings, Lafleur
sent the following letter to Yussuff:
Dear Brother Yussuff,
I am writing to set the record straight regarding my participation in
the Third International Trade Union Forum held in Damascus, Sept. 8-9, 2019.
The Forum’s focus was: “Solidarity with Syrian Workers and People to Confront
the Economic Sanctions, Imperialist Intervention and Terrorism.” Organized by
the General Federation of Trade Unions in Syria in cooperation with the
International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU) and World Federation
of Trade Unions (WFTU), the Forum attracted over 250 delegates representing labour, civil society, international solidarity, peace
groups and journalists from around the world, primarily the Global South.
During my trip, I took the opportunity to visit Palestinian refugee
camps in Lebanon and meet activists, including the official representative of
the PGFTU in Lebanon. There, we heard about mass protests in opposition to the
right-wing Lebanese Labour Minister to impose
punitive conditions on Palestinian workers and their employers before
commencing employment and even to prohibit Palestinians from occupying certain
occupations altogether. These conditions will cause further immiseration
of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon since the creation in 1948 of the State of
Israel.
My participation in the Forum, well known to you in advance of my
departure to Syria, was purely in my personal capacity. I went on my own
vacation leave and didn’t charge a penny of travel expenses to the CLC. As a
Canadian, I have the right to travel to Syria and evaluate the situation with
my own two eyes. I was not there in any official capacity as Vice President of
the Canadian Labour Congress or any of its
affiliates. I want to acknowledge, however that you advised me to avoid
speaking publicly as it might be misunderstood, given my CLC position.
At the Forum, I did not deliver any public address to the assembled
delegates. I was approached by an international news agency to speak about my
views of the economic sanctions on Syria. In a short quote, I indicated that
“sanctions are completely unacceptable and that the Canadian labour movement does support the people of Syria and we are
here to put pressure to take the sanctions away.” I mistakenly thought that
saying “the Canadian labour movement” to a Venezuelan
reporter in the short interview was broad enough, given the position the CLC
had taken on the Venezuelan crisis but, in hindsight, and because I was
identified on screen as “Canadian Labour Congress”,
it was a lapse in judgment. Although what I said about sanctions wasn’t
contrary to CLC policy (in fact, we don’t have a clear policy on the issue of
sanctions imposed on Syria), I didn’t intend to speak for the CLC or any of its
affiliates and, for that, I’d like to apologize to you.
When I agreed to attend the trade union solidarity forum in Damascus, I
had very little knowledge of the real situation on the ground in Syria, and in
fact held general mainstream viewpoints we hear often from pundits and official
Canadian government representatives. I went there with a completely open mind
and a genuine desire to learn more, especially since the CLC and its affiliates
have played an important role in welcoming and supporting Syrian refugees in
Canada over the past few years.
What I discovered, during my short trip to Damascus and surrounding area, and discussions with Syrians and other delegates is
that there is another side to the story. In particular, I feel that, as Western
labour activists and leaders, we have a
responsibility to question our government’s support to forces with ties to
terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda in this bloody conflict that has led
to untold misery and human cost.
As a leader and activist, I have come to realize that supporting
refugees to resettle in Canada and feel welcome, although very important, is
not nearly enough. Refugees would rather live in peace and prosperity in their
home countries. They become refugees as a result of wars or dire economic
conditions or both. In the case of Syria, millions have left the country
because of the war but also because of the toll that economic sanctions have
taken on them and their families.
I appeal to you and our affiliate leaders to continue to support Syrian
refugees to feel welcome in Canada. I also hope that we, as a movement, can
begin a discussion about the role that economic sanctions have played in the
creation of the current refugee crisis around the world and, in particular, in
Syria. In my opinion, current events playing out at the UN (with the
Secretary-General bringing together the Syrian government and opposition forces
to draft a new constitution) and in northeastern Syria (where the USA seems
gradually to be withdrawing its military forces and the Kurds have come to an
accommodation with Damascus) indicate that Canada’s sanctions against Syria
should be lifted now and full diplomatic recognition be restored with the
official government in Damascus. These moves by Canada, I believe, would hasten
the end of the war in Syria.
I hope to continue the work I have done, in my capacity of Executive
Vice-President, on my files such as health & safety as well as the
environment. One H&S file that comes to mind is the Westray
Law police e-training that will soon be available to all police forces in
Canada. I believe my environmental efforts helped lead the New Democratic Party
to adopt “A New Deal for Climate Action and Good Jobs” as part of its election
program. I also have a lot to offer on my other files on youth and the United
Way which need to be completed. I can’t wait to resume my full duties in these
and other fields of benefit to the entire labour
movement.
Once again, I take full personal responsibility for speaking to the
media in Damascus, contrary to your advice, but hope that this lapse in
judgment doesn’t take away from issues I raise in this letter and the important
work we need and must engage in together to go forward.
In solidarity,
Donald Lafleur,
Vice President, Canadian Labour Congress
The above article is from the
November 16-30, 2019, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist
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