February 13 2024

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) joins 5 other unions, representing over 2 million workers, in calling on the Canadian government to reverse its decision to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the primary aid agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and throughout the region.

NUPGE, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), NUPGE, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Unifor, and the United Steelworkers (USW) sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Trudeau on February 8.

 “UNRWA is an irreplaceable aid organization relied upon by millions of Palestinians for over 7 decades,” they wrote. “It is particularly cruel for large donor countries to deny this critical organization its funding at this time, considering the current catastrophic humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing bombardment by Israel.”

Humanitarian organizations have sounded the alarm, warning that the suspension of UNRWA funding will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, given UNRWA’s critical role in the region.

The unions “call on the Government of Canada to reverse the suspension of funding to UNRWA until the UN completes its investigation, which will ensure that the urgently needed, lifesaving aid can continue to reach Palestinians.”

The letter comes as the Israeli military prepares a ground offensive in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, where 1.4 million Palestinians now live. Many of these people have been displaced from elsewhere in Gaza and have nowhere left to go.

NUPGE continues to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to stop the hostilities and prevent further casualties. This will be essential to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians, for the safe return of all hostages, and for working towards a lasting peace with justice.

Read the letter to Prime Minister Trudeau in English and in French.