Jewish PSAC members alarmed over union employee's pro-Hezbollah tweets

This isn't the first time PSAC Negotiator Hassan Husseini's overt anti-Israel activism has triggered concern

Author of the article:

Bryan Passifiume

Published Feb 26, 2025  •  Last updated Feb 27, 2025  •  3 minute read

OTTAWA — Jewish members of one of Canada’s largest public service unions are alarmed over concerning tweets by a union employee — an individual with a history of antisemitic social media posts.

A letter to Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) leadership from public servant Chelsea Rosen described social media posts by PSAC Senior Negotiator Hassan Husseini as both disturbing and unacceptable — and demanded the union take action.

“PSAC should hold its employees to a high standard, both in and outside the workplace,” read the letter, obtained by the Toronto Sun.

“A union is meant to represent all members, regardless of background, and provide a safe and inclusive space for everyone. Sadly, Mr. Husseini’s behavior is actively contributing to an environment where Jewish members feel unsafe and unrepresented.”

Invitations to PSAC for comment went unacknowledged.

Husseini took to social media after Sunday’s funeral for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, posting and retweeting disturbing X posts mourning the liquidated terrorist.

Among posts he retweeted include an antisemitic diatribe describing Zionists as “disgusting, insecure, violent, soulless, culture-less, death colony. I know they’ll be gone soon enough, but what a gross thing to deal with in the meantime.”

Husseini also posted a Hezbollah emblem on his X account, a signet with Arabic writing coloured in the Hezbollah colours of yellow and green.

That symbol, says Boal Shapira — an analyst with of the Israel-based Alma Research and Education Centre — roughly translates into “we will keep our pledge,” and is used by Hezbollah supporters as an pledge of allegiance after Nasrallah’s funeral.

Jewish PSAC members have long worried about their union’s anti-Israel activism, including $50,000 donations in 2023 to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — the latter facing scrutiny after its employees were caught moonlighting for Hamas.

Casey Babb, a Macdonald-Laurier Institute fellow and adviser with Secure Canada, said that while it’s disturbing somebody so closely connected to Canada’s public service would hold such views, it’s hardly surprising.

“Long before October 7th —but especially in the months since — it’s become clear Islamists and ‘progressives’ found a common cause to support: upending ‘the system’ and the structures and ideologies that in their view are to blame for the world’s injustices,” he said.

“Islamism and progressivism are completely incompatible, but to extremists in these camps all of that can be dealt with later. For now, there are Jews to attack and demonize and that’s what matters most.”

Gerald Steinberg, founder of Jerusalem-based think-tank NGO Monitor, said it’s a persistent problem.

“This is an example of a Canadian who exploits his position for propaganda in support of a terror organization, specifically Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon,” he said.

“This abuse takes place in many frameworks, including unions, media platforms and universities, and should be documented and, when warranted, lead to appropriate remedies.”

Richard Marceau of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) said this is another example of Husseini’s “dangerous fixation” with anti-Israel activism.

“It is unconscionable that someone who glorifies terror holds a leadership position within Canada’s largest public sector union,” he said.

“A union’s job is to represent the interest of all its members, regardless of their background and beliefs. Husseini must be removed from PSAC leadership immediately.”

Last year, CIJA assisted Jewish PSAC members in filing 22 separate complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, accusing the union of promoting an exclusionary agenda and creating hostile work environments for Jewish members.

This isn’t the first time Husseini’s social media posts sparked concern.

As highlighted in a 2024 National Post article, Jewish PSAC members were alarmed over Husseini’s praise of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Twitter.

“Resisting Israeli occupation and apartheid is a right. Unconditional support for the Palestinian resistance movement until full liberation!” Husseini tweeted on Oct. 7, 2023.

bpassifiume@postmedia.comX: @bryanpassifiume