Motions Passed

We, as workers, communicate with UPP though our unions. Motions calling for UPP divestment are democratically passed by the workers affected, following the time-honored processes established by our organizations’ constitutions and by-laws. On this page, you’ll find the timeline and text of motions passed.

So far, formal calls for UPP divestment have been made by:

CUPE 1281 (July 21, 2025)

CUPE 1281 represents staff employed by labor organizations, including the following UPP member workplaces: the University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA), the Wilfred Laurier University Faculty Association (WLUFA), and the Ontario Confederation of University Teachers (OCUFA).

On July 21, 2025, the membership of CUPE 1281, including workers from the affected units, democratically adopted a UPP divestment resolution at their annual convention – the first to call our shared campaign by name.

Motion to stand in solidarity with the Workers’ Campaign for UPP Divestment.

University of Toronto Faculty Association (May 8, 2025)

The University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA) represents faculty and librarians at the University of Toronto.

On May 8, 2025, a record-breaking turnout of UTFA members adopted a comprehensive UPP divestment resolution at a Special Membership Meeting. This meeting was called by a members’ petition under constitutional right, exclusively to discuss UPP divestment.

1. Announce and implement an immediate screen on any new investments in, and a rapid timeline for complete divestment from, all direct and indirect holdings in entities that manufacture or distribute arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may be used by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and elsewhere where they could be used to commit or facilitate

– a serious violation of international humanitarian law, a serious violation of international human rights law,
– an act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to terrorism to which Canada is a party,
– an act constituting an offence under international conventions or protocols relating to transnational organized crime to which Canada is a party, or
– serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children;

2. Announce and implement an immediate screen on any new investments in, and a rapid timeline for complete divestment from, all direct and indirect holdings in entities engaged in activities that support or sustain Israel’s illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those that support or sustain an illegal occupation of any other territory, including Russia’s occupation of the Crimean peninsula; and

3. Incorporate these divestment commitments into its Investment Exclusion policy.

The campaign included letters of support from Black, Indigenous, and Jewish faculty and librarians.

CUPE 1230 (November 20, 2024)

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1230 represents library workers in the University of Toronto Libraries system (UTL).

On November 20, 2024, the membership of CUPE 1230 democratically adopted a UPP divestment resolution at a General Membership Meeting.

Be it resolved that CUPE Local 1230 calls for the University Pension Plan (UPP) and any other funds we contribute to, to divest from and implement an exclusion policy on:

A. military industries in general,

B. companies specifically supplying the Israeli military, illegal occupation, and apartheid, and

C. companies which directly enable or facilitate genocide, apartheid, or other war crimes and crimes against humanity, in accordance with international law.

CUPE 3902 (August 9, 2024)

Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3902 represents contract academic workers at the University of Toronto. It is the largest union at U of T by membership.

On August 9, 2024, the membership of CUPE 3902 democratically adopted a UPP divestment resolution at a General Membership Meeting.

Motion to call on the University Pension Plan to divest from all companies supplying technologies, weapons, or weapons components to militaries, including the Israeli Defense Forces, as well as from all companies that operate in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, or that directly or indirectly support the construction and expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

USW 1998 (July 18, 2024)

United Steelworkers Local 1998 consists of administrative and technical staff at the University of Toronto. It is the union representing the single largest cohort of pensioners served by UPP.

This resolution was introduced by members as a Notice of Motion. It was democratically adopted at a General Membership Meeting on July 18, 2024, with one month of notice given.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT USW Local 1998 calls for the University Pension Plan (UPP) management to implement a) an immediate screen on any new investments in military industries in general and, b) due to the State of Israel’s ongoing assault on the people of Gaza, an immediate screen on any new investments in companies supplying the Israeli military specifically.

USW Local 1998 also calls for the University Pension Plan (UPP) management to announce a rapid timeline for complete divestment from military industries in general and from companies supplying the Israeli military specifically.

Trent University Faculty Association (June 12, 2024)

The Trent University Faculty Association (TUFA) represents faculty and librarians at Trent University.

On June 12, 2024, TUFA adopted a comprehensive Motion to Prevent Scholasticide in Palestine, which includes UPP divestment in scope.

Be it resolved that TUFA: […]

a) Conduct research with the aim of ending all TUFA’s and our university’s ties and support for the Israeli military, defence, security, intelligence, and technology sectors (including institutional research collaborations, corporations, investments, and financial holdings),

c) Develop a research report that documents the connections between our faculty association’s resources, our university’s finances, investments, and agreements, and our own salaries and pension with the Israeli military, defence, security, intelligence, and technology sectors […]