Unite’s Policy Conference last week voted by a large majority for the statement on Palestine produced – after several revisions – by our Executive Council. The statement included support for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign BDS policy.
Covering Composite #10 (inc M64, M65, M66), Composite #11 (inc M70, M71, M72), Composite #12 (inc M62, M63), Composite #13 (inc M76 and amendment, M77), M67, M69, M73, M74 and amendment, M75, M78.
The Executive Council condemns in the strongest terms the genocidal actions of the Israeli government committed in Gaza and the West Bank including ethnic cleansing, famine, attacks on civilians, children, hospitals, and aid distribution sites. Entire populations have been displaced and vital infrastructure has been destroyed. At least 61,000 Palestinians have been deliberately killed.
Israel is on trial for genocide at the International Court of Justice, which issued an advisory opinion in July 2024 stating that Israel’s ongoing presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli leaders for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions has called for global solidarity. They have asked that workers refuse to deal with military shipments to Israel, especially those transported by logistics companies Maersk and ZIM. Furthermore, BDS has been shown to be an effective, peaceful strategy in campaigning in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Unite will support worker-led campaigns to boycott the handling of Israeli goods and services in their workplaces and campaigns for divestment from Israeli companies in their workplaces and the wider economy. Prior to taking action Unite will engage with members and reps in any affected sectors. We will not take any action that will put members’ jobs at risk without their consent. Furthermore, Unite will give full support to any individual member or section of members, who seek and do not get adequate assurances from their employers that are not breaching international law while they carry out their work duties.
Unite has a moral and internationalist obligation to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. This has been reflected by our policy on Palestinian solidarity that has been reaffirmed and strengthened at each policy conference since the formation of the union in 2007.
The UK continues to support and sell arms to Israel. The Labour government must use its international position to bring an end to the genocide and to find a negotiated solution. This includes the use of sanctions and divestment, and the rejection of military escalation or intervention. Labour must adhere to their manifesto promise and recognise the state of Palestine.
While site reps continue to defend people’s right to protest, we cannot condone protestors who abuse or blame our members for the actions of the Israeli government. However we do advise reps where they are confident and comfortable to engage with protestors to refute any myths and try to find common ground where possible.
Unite resolves to:
- Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire and support a full arms embargo and banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements and all other trade that aids or assists Israel’s violations of international law.
- If a ceasefire is in place, ensure guarantees that it is permanent, and that adequate support is given for the rebuilding of Palestine.
- Encourage branches and regions to affiliate to Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), support PSC demonstrations- including by sending representatives to speak- and to publicise days of action.
- Work with PSC to engage and inform members and reps in specific sectors and industries, particularly those working in companies that are identified as complicit with war crimes and the crime of genocide, for an effective assessment of, and to ensure full coordination with the campaigns- reaffirming Unite’s support of PSC.
- Urge members and branches to take part in divestment campaigns targeting local government pension funds and council investments in companies complicit in Israel’s war crimes, to fulfil their moral and legal obligations according to international law
- Defend all Unite members victimised at work for expressing support for the Palestinian people.
- Oppose and fully condemn the genocide that is being committed by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people and ensure that Unite publicly puts its full force behind the campaigns to stop UK complicity in the genocide and the flouting of international law by governments and companies.
- Reaffirm our opposition to Israeli ethnic cleansing and Israeli apartheid, including campaigns on Palestinian child prisoners and the criminalisation of NGOs in Israel.
- Work with the Palestinian union movement to support them in their struggle against the Israeli state’s genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, and to help them rebuild and organise when the time comes.
- Reaffirm our non-engagement with Histadrut following their support of the illegal occupations since 1967.
- Support calls for the Palestinian people’s right to return and for their right of self-determination of their own future free from interference from foreign powers or organisations, and to support their right to justice, peace, and equality free from racism, occupation, apartheid, and colonisation.
- Implement and resource Unite Policy as decided upon by the lay membership at Unite’s Policy Conference.
- Ensure Unite strengthens its work to build effective solidarity with the Palestinian people – both in the UK and Ireland and at European and global levels.
- Ensure Unite mobilises to assist sectors, in sectoral specific acts of solidarity with Palestinians counterparts and for the union to fully support these and other sectors actions.
- Call for effective and immediate sanctions to be placed on the Israeli economy including the seizure of Israeli state assets held in the UK.
- Call for a stop to the institutions of the City of London being used as a global money laundering hub for the wealthy, and the seizure of UK held or traded assets, including housing and corporate holdings, of targeted supporters of the Netanyahu regime.
- Call for immunity from third party litigation for those workers and their unions taking direct action against Israeli goods in support of Palestinians and in line with the objectives of this motion.
- Call for provision of full support for all those fleeing the conflict and to receive Palestinian refugees – and all refugees – with compassion and assistance.”
- Call for the immediate release of all children and adults unlawfully detained.
- Heed the call from Palestinian trade unions by encouraging and supporting members to refuse to build, handle or transport weapons destined for Israel, as well as making a public statement in support of such embargo.
See speech by Jim Kelly of Passenger Transport one of many speakers in the debate
Unite has historically led the debate in our movement calling for concrete policies to support our sisters and brothers in Palestine.
We have also given practical support to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza: Recently The Chair of the Southeast Region helped organize donations for the Palestinian Postal union in the West Bank, whose members’ wages have been stopped by the Israeli government. Like other regions and nations my region has consistently donated significant sums to Medical Aid for Palestine and have worked with our Community members to give support to the Shu’Fat refugee camp in East Jerusalem.
There has been a regional presence on all the 27 London Gaza demonstrations, as well as in Norwich and other cities in the region.
But often when we were on the massive national marches in London with our regional banner we have been asked by members and other trade unionists why there is no Unite national speaker on the platform alongside other national trade union leaders. We had no answer.
Our Regional Committee has also passed motions to the EC calling for more organizing resources and a louder voice for PSC initiatives alongside implementation of our BDS, none were frivolous. Instead of being heard all were ruled out of order and not debated. We have never been told why
This motion particularly welcomes our Aerospace and Shipbuilding NISC call for an embargo on all direct arms sales to Israel, and now the EC Statement, which contains many good points, pledging full support for members who demand assurances that the work they are involved in does not break international law, and also the final bullet point supporting members who refuse to build handle or transport weapons destined for Israel.
The recent decision by the BMA to suspend engagement with the Israeli Medical Association shows the growing anger at the Israeli war on Gaza. Fifteen hundred health workers have been killed since October 2017 and nearly every hospital in Gaza is deliberately destroyed or barely functioning. IDF soldiers have run amok in hospitals, now IDF drones or missiles do the work instead.
And While the BBC rages about Kneecap and Bob Vylan, it says very little about the 227 Palestinian journalists murdered in the last 21 months.
And Israel has never hidden its intent, in October 2023 Gallant, the Israeli Defense Minister referred to Palestinians as human animals. Gallant set out his military intentions very early; a complete siege of Gaza – No Electricity – No Fuel – No Food. Everything will close.
Other Israeli government ministers have echoed this saying Palestinians are subhuman or less than human. Israeli government officials were quoted recently as saying that starving two million Palestinians to death was “justified and moral”
Conference, this is the language of fascism.
Today Unite has an opportunity for a reset and to move forward. This motion calls for the implementation of our agreed policies, currently BDS with more resources to help inform, educate and mobilise members, because one thing is certain Israel has not wanted, or indeed honoured previous ceasefires.
The current Israeli fundamentalist government wants permanent war, ethnic cleansing and genocide. But instead of permanent war there needs be a permanent peace and Israeli leaders guilty of war crimes should be held to account.
But there can be no permanent or sustainable peace without justice for the Palestinian people. Unite has a responsibility to be active at every level in those campaigns for justice. Whatever today’s outcome in the debate we need unity and action as well as words.
SUPPORT THE MOTION and please consider positively, supporting the EC Statement
