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| Volume 54 Number 30, November 30, 2024 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
On Thursday, November 28, tens of thousands of working people in Britain answered the call of Palestinian trade unionists by taking action in their workplace, educational institution or community.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) explained:
University of Bedfordshire - Photo:
Counterfire
"In September, TUC Congress unanimously passed a motion demanding an end to all arms trade with Israel, reiterating support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and recognising that all Palestinians are subjected to a system of oppression that is recognised internationally as apartheid. Congress also voted to adopt an emergency resolution to support calls for a UK-wide workplace day of action in support of an immediate ceasefire.
"Palestinian workers, remaining steadfast in pursuing their struggle for freedom and justice, have called on workers around the world to stand in solidarity with them by campaigning to end the complicity of their governments, corporations and institutions in Israel's system of oppression."
The TUC stated that unions are supporting the workplace day of action, calling for an immediate ceasefire, on November 28. Members are encouraged to liaise with their union about solidarity actions in their own workplaces. Tens of thousands of trade unionists in Britain have already carried out an array of solidarity actions. The TUC said: "Palestinian workers have called on workers around the world to stand in solidarity with them. The imposition of a system of oppression against all Palestinians by successive Israeli governments has been shown to meet the definition of the crime of apartheid under international law. The TUC is calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages and Palestinian political prisoners, and in line with our wider policy on the situation, for the UK government to: apply international pressure to help ensure access to essentials such as food and medicines in Gaza; end all licences for arms traded with Israel - meeting international law; immediately recognise the State of Palestine."
Newcastle workplace rally - Photo: Workers'
Weekly
The TUC is calling for a ban in the trade in goods from the illegal settlements, for the UK to halt trade talks with Israel, and to suspend the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement until the Israeli government complies with international law, UN resolutions and respects Palestinians' human rights. It stated: "We share concerns expressed by the UN and others of the risk of a full-scale conflict in the Middle East, and we echo calls for de-escalation. The TUC supports genuine efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that is consistent with international law, and is based on a two-state solution, which promotes equality, democracy and respect for human and labour rights."
The union Unison stated that it joins Palestinian trade unions in their continued demands for an immediate ceasefire, access to humanitarian assistance and for the arms trade with Israel to be suspended. It also supports the calls for the immediate and safe release of hostages held in Gaza, the release of Palestinian political prisoners, full recognition of the State of Palestine and an end to trade with the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
A Newcastle workplace rally organised by Trades Unionists for Palestine took place at Haymarket. Workers from the NEU, PCS, UCU, Unison (Gateshead) and Newcastle Trades Council participated. About 200 rallied at noon, with union banners and strong delegations from PCS, UCU and Unison, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the end of arms sales to Israel. Unions which provided speakers included UCU, PCS, Unison and NEU as well as the local trades council and student speakers.
Glasgow, Scotland - Photo: Glasgow Stop the
War
The trade union day of action saw a great turn-out in events by trade unionists across Greater Manchester which culminated in a rally in central Manchester. Speakers included union officials from Unite, Unison, UCU, and representatives from local trades councils. The assistant branch secretary of Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Unison branch, which is currently taking strike action, gave a speech linking the struggles in the UK and in Palestine. More than 100 students and staff also joined together for a Palestine rally at Manchester Metropolitan University. There was also a protest at arms firm Thales, in nearby Stockport.
In York, some 30 people marched as part of the TUC day of action. This included a delegation from York Unison, alongside banners from York University UCU, York and District TUC and Leeds/York Unite Community.
Lancashire Trades Council co-ordinated the workers' day of action in Preston. A rally was held in the city centre at midday with workers from local government and education sectors joining during their lunch break. A number of college students from the local sixth-form college joined the rally.
SOAS University of London - Photo:
Counterfire
Healthcare workers also participated in the workplace rallies. The staff group at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, organised a walkout on November 28, calling for others to come along and support them. They upheld the slogans: End the NHS's collaboration with Palantir! Stand together and show respect for Palestinian and Lebanese healthcare workers! Palantir is the data-crunching firm, specialising in software platforms for big data analytics, headed by billionaire Peter Thiel in the United States. NHS bosses awarded his firm a massive patient records contract despite Thiel saying he wants to abolish the NHS. His firm is also heavily integrated with the Israeli military and spy agencies.
It is reported that actions were also called for at the Department for Business and Trade which grants arms licenses, with the Palestinian Youth Movement, Workers for a Free Palestine, Queers for Palestine, Sisters Uncut and London for a Free Palestine. Arms embargo NOW!
At SOAS, part of the University of London, as part of the workplace day of action, students and staff took part in a vibrant action to defend protest on campus. Around 200 people protested against university complicity in the ethnic cleansing of students, and against the attacks on students and staff in Britain for their solidarity with Palestine. They expressed their solidarity against the university's crackdown on the pro-Palestine movement. SOAS and the University of London has suspended multiple students for their solidarity with Palestine and had secured an injunction to stop any and all demonstrations on their own campus. Speakers at the protest included the long-time campaigner Andrew Feinstein, as well as Jeremy Corbyn, the student activist Haya Adam, and Lindsey German from Stop the War Coalition.
Bristol PCS members outside HMRC - Photo:
Counterfire
Dozens of pro-Palestinian students, staff and their supporters also gathered at the University of Leicester. In addition to supporting the day of action, the protest was also in solidarity with students who were arrested at an occupation demanding the university end its links with firms supporting the genocide in Palestine. The police had been called on to campus to break up the occupation.
Protesters also gathered at Brighton University with many heading to the local L3 Harris arms company. Meanwhile in the city centre over 100 joined a protest that included a banner that read, "Unite members say Stop the War".
Up to 50 students and staff at Imperial College, in west London, held a lunchtime protest. Students and staff numbering 200 attended a lunchtime rally at Cambridge University. This event was co-organised by the Unite, UCU, Unison and NEU unions and students from Cambridge for Palestine and PalSoc. Around 30 students and staff from the London College of Fashion, in east London, held a lunchtime protest at their new campus in the Olympic Park. Up to 70 students and staff at Birmingham University joined a two-hour protest organised by the UCU and Unison unions. Activists now plan to make this a weekly event.
Staff and students from City of Bristol College took part for the eighth time in the national workplace day of action. They rallied outside City Hall and were joined by workers from surrounding workplaces including the University of Bristol and striking NEU members from St Brendan's Sixth-Form college. Delegates from Bristol Trades Council as well as members from NEU, Unison, UCU and PCS came out to College Green. The rally was hosted by the chair of Bristol Stop the War and speakers included a Professor Emeritus of Bristol University, the chair of Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign, an NEU rep, a consultant from the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and the chair of PCS and Southwest TUC. With TUC backing, there was greater scope for co-ordinated action and lunchtime rallies also took place at Glass Wharf and outside Elbit Systems in Filton. A vigil also took place outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary in the afternoon. There were dozens of further actions in the region.
(TUC, PSC, Unison, Stop the War, Counterfire, Socialist Worker, Workers' Weekly)