At the monthly meeting of delegates to the Hamilton & District Labour Council, the following resolution was passed:
Whereas on Sept 8 & 9, 2019, CLC Executive Vice-President Donald Lafleur attended in Damascus the Third International Trade Union Forum of the General Federal of Trade Unions (GFTU), which focussed on lifting western economic sanctions on Syria and respecting the sovereignty of that country. Over 200 delegates from 42 countries attended this conference, mostly representatives of trade unions belonging to the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU);
Noting that Brother Lafleur notified CLC President Hassan Yussuff in advance of his intention to participate in the conference and attended on his own vacation leave without charging a single penny of his travel expenses to the CLC;
Noting also that Brother Lafleur did not address the conference but rather gave a short comment to Venezuelan TV broadcaster Telesur in which he said, “The sanctions on Syria are completely unacceptable. The Canadian labour movement does support the people in Syria and we are here to put pressure to take the sanctions away."
Concerned that CLC President President Yussuff disciplined Lafleur upon his return to Canada by placing him on administrative leave from his CLC portfolios on the environment, youth, health and safety, and the United Way;
Recognizing that Yussuff exceeded his authority in doing so since, according to the CLC Constitution, only the CLC Convention itself can discipline a table officer;
Therefore BE IT RESOLVED
1) that the Hamilton & District Labour Council communicate with the CLC Executive Council before October 23, 2019, demanding that Donald Lafleur be restored to his full roster of duties as Executive Vice-President;
2) that all HDLC affiliate unions be circularized with the details of the petition on behalf of Donald Lafleur;
3) that a link to the petition below be placed on the HDLC website:
(Donald is seated third from right in the photo above in the first row behind the flowers.)