The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has called for the resignation of its president, Fred Hahn, following a controversial social media post.
The post in question, which was shared on Hahn’s personal Twitter account, featured a photo of a CUPE member holding a sign that read “F*** Doug Ford.” The caption accompanying the photo read, “Proud of our members for standing up to this tyrant.”
The tweet quickly sparked backlash, with many criticizing Hahn for using profanity and for seemingly condoning violence against Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
In response, CUPE released a statement calling for Hahn’s resignation, stating that his actions were “unacceptable and do not reflect the values of our union.” The statement also emphasized that CUPE does not condone violence or hate speech in any form.
Hahn has since deleted the tweet and issued an apology, stating that he “should have chosen [his] words more carefully.” He also clarified that the tweet was not meant to condone violence, but rather to express frustration with the Ford government’s policies.
However, CUPE remains firm in their stance that Hahn’s actions were unacceptable and that he should step down from his position as president. The union represents over 700,000 workers across Canada, making it one of the largest labor organizations in the country.
This is not the first time Hahn has faced criticism for his social media posts. In 2019, he came under fire for a tweet that compared Ford to former US President Donald Trump.
The call for Hahn’s resignation has sparked a debate within the labor community, with some supporting his right to free speech and others arguing that his actions have brought the union into disrepute.
CUPE has yet to announce any further actions regarding Hahn’s position, but the controversy surrounding his social media post has certainly caused a stir within the organization.
