WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, which represents approximately 17,000 educators across the province, is facing mounting criticism after announcing a $5,000 donation to an international organization critics allege promotes extremist Palestinian causes and discriminatory policies targeting Israel.
On December 9, the union announced it was contributing $5,000 to Education International’s Solidarity Fund, stating the donation was made “in solidarity with educators in Palestine.” The Manitoba Teachers’ Society said the contribution reflected its commitment to public education as a force for peace and social change.
However, the announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Jewish organizations, teachers, and media watchdogs who question both the destination of the funds and the lack of transparency surrounding the decision.
According to reporting by Honest Reporting Canada, Education International is a Belgium-based organization that promotes anti-Israel content on its website and is not registered as a charity in Canada. There is no publicly available record detailing its funding sources or financial oversight in this country.
Education International lists several Palestinian organizations as affiliates, including the General Union of Palestinian Teachers and the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees.
The General Union of Palestinian Teachers has publicly accused Israel of genocide, promoted claims of colonial violence, and endorsed the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement. Its leader, Saed Erziqat, has reportedly compared Israel to Nazi Germany and has been alleged to have met with representatives of Palestinian terrorist groups. The organization’s logo omits Israel entirely.
Another affiliate, the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees, has called on universities worldwide to sever ties with Israeli academic institutions, a move critics describe as overt discrimination based on nationality.
A December 9 article in the Winnipeg Free Press reported that the Manitoba Teachers’ Society donation was ultimately directed to the General Union of Palestinian Teachers, with funds funneled through Education International.
The Free Press quoted a Manitoba teacher, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, expressing anger over the donation. The teacher said the union has failed to meaningfully address antisemitism in Manitoba schools, despite anti-Jewish hate crimes remaining the most common form of hate crime in Canada.
Critics argue the decision was made without consultation or approval from the union’s membership. They say the donation highlights a broader trend among teachers’ unions prioritizing foreign political activism over addressing pressing local needs.
“With students going hungry, classrooms lacking supplies, and schools cutting programs due to budget shortfalls, teachers’ dues should be focused on Manitoba students,” said one community advocate.
The controversy mirrors similar actions taken by national teachers organizations. In 2024, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation sent thousands of dollars to Palestinian groups through Education International, a move that also drew criticism from Jewish organizations.
The issue has prompted an organized email campaign urging the Manitoba Teachers’ Society leadership to reverse the decision. In a letter addressed to the union’s president and provincial executive, Manitoba parents and community members describe the donation as “shocking” and “deeply troubling.”
The letter states that Education International has issued what it calls false and inflammatory accusations against Israel, including claims of “scholasticide” and systematic killing of teachers, while failing to condemn Hamas’s documented use of schools for weapons storage, attacks, and terror tunnel access.
The letter also notes reports that some UNRWA teachers participated in the October 7 massacre in Israel and criticizes Education International for remaining silent on such findings while condemning Israel’s self-defense. As of the time of writing, Education International has not issued a statement condemning the recent antisemitic murders of Jews in Australia.
“No matter the original intention, the effect of this donation is to legitimize and amplify hatred,” the letter states. It warns that such actions put Jewish and Zionist students and teachers in Manitoba schools at risk of harassment, ridicule, and potential violence.
The letter calls on the Manitoba Teachers’ Society to rescind the donation, issue a public apology, and commit to allocating future funding exclusively to Manitoba. It also urges the union to implement policies preventing discriminatory treatment of Jewish members and to invest in resources to address antisemitism in schools.
As of publication, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society has not publicly responded to calls to reverse the donation or clarify how the funds will be monitored.
The controversy underscores growing concern within Canada’s Jewish community over the role of public sector unions in funding international activism that critics say fuels antisemitism domestically.
