PSAC joins other Canadian unions, together representing more than two million workers, calling for the federal government to reinstate its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).  

In a joint letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week, PSAC, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), Unifor, United Steelworkers (USW), and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) urged the government to reverse its decision to suspend UNRWA funding.  

The UNRWA is the main agency providing essential aid for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, and it has been supporting millions of Palestinians for over 70 years. Without the funding from large donor countries like Canada, it is likely to run out of funding by the end of February and will no longer be able to provide crucial humanitarian aid. 

Cutting essential funding to the aid agency as the catastrophic humanitarian crisis worsens is a form of collective punishment against the people of Gaza, who continue to endure the unrelenting bombardment of civilians and the denial of water, electricity, medicine and food.  

Denying UNRWA funding also goes against the measures issued by the International Court of Justice to ensure sufficient humanitarian aid continues to flow into Gaza. 

We call on the Government of Canada to listen to humanitarian organizations and reverse the suspension of funding to UNRWA. 

PSAC also continues to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and reinstate the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian relief. 

Read the full text of the letter sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.