Workers in Palestine

Earlier today I participated in an international call on the situation in Palestine and Israel that was sponsored by the National Labor Network for a Ceasefire and that was facilitated by Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union. At this point the number of union and union locals and allied labor organizations that have signed on to the Network's call is quite large and the Network's ability to meet and work with Palestinian trade unionists by Zoom is significant.

Today's call featured presentations by several Palestinian trade union leaders. From my point of view, the most important presentations came from a leader of a transport union and a leader of the Palestinian journalists union. 

During the call mention was made of the Workers in Palestine effort, an international project that is developing a base among unions and union members here in North America. The National Labor Network has the following objectives:

* An immediate ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
* Restoration of basic human rights.
* Immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas.
* Unimpeded full access for humanitarian aid.

* Our president calling for a permanent ceasefire.

Workers in Palestine supports a call from many trade unions and trade unionists in Palestine that includes the following statement:

We are calling on trade unions in relevant industries:

* To refuse to build weapons destined for Israel.
* To refuse to transport weapons to Israel.
* To pass motions in their trade union to this effect.
* To take action against complicit companies involved in implementing Israel’s brutal and illegal siege, especially if they have contracts with your institution.
* Pressure governments to stop all military trade with Israel, and in the case of the US, funding to it.

We make this call as we see attempts to ban and silence all forms of solidarity with the Palestinian people. We ask you to speak out and take action in the face of injustice as trade unions have done historically. We make this call in the belief that the struggle for Palestinian justice and liberation is not only a regionally and globally determined struggle. It is a lever for the liberation of all dispossessed and exploited people of the world.

There is a spectrum of opinion and activism here. No one should feel that the two efforts are in conflict with one another, but everyone should feel some urgency about doing something to prevent the genocide taking place in Gaza and working to prevent a war that could go nuclear. This is a labor issue, as President Dimondstein points out.

Here is a helpful video from Workers in Palestine:

  e ceasefire in Gaza between Is