By Left Horizons reporters
Left Horizons does not agree with all of the expressions of support for a ceasefire in Gaza. There is often a false ‘equivalence’ presented between Israelis and Palestinians, between the occupier and the occupied, and sometimes a utopian expectation that Western politicians really can be persuaded or believed to conduct policy from a ‘moral’ standpoint.
However, the sheer number of resolutions of support for a ceasefire is an indication of the enormous political shift that is taking place across the world and particularly in the workers’ movement, over the issue of Israel and Palestine. Support for the former is plummeting, whereas support for the latter is increasing.
We reprint this circular, from the ‘Caucus of Working Educators’ in the USA, for no other reason than it shows that shift of opinion that is taking place. The text of the circular from the Caucus of Working Educators to its supporters is as follows:
We know many of our plates are full as we round the corner into winter break, but we want to share with you an important action update from unions across the country, who are taking action as part of the labor movement regarding Israel’s siege on Gaza.
The death toll in Palestine continues to rise with thousands still missing and buried under rubble. Access to food and clean water have become more and more scarce with people now starving to death and diseases rapidly spreading. Even President Biden himself, despite supporting Israel every step of the way, recently labeled Israel’s continued bombings as “indiscriminate”.
Amidst this ongoing genocide, union members have created a petition to leverage our power as workers to demand a ceasefire. Many entire unions have signed on already, including teachers unions like the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, Chicago Federation of Teachers, and AFT Oregon. Most recently the United Auto Workers National Union signed on too, adding significant momentum to the petition as one of the largest unions in the US.
As rank and file union members, we can take it into our own hands to show support for a ceasefire and amplify this petition: Click here to sign the US Labor Movement’s petition for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine!
As union members, we believe in our power in numbers. We can use this strength to organize not only for better working conditions, but also for the lives and humanity of others. Every dollar sent from the U.S. to fund Israel’s massacre of Palestinians is a dollar taken from our schools and communities that desperately need them.
This call to action is a process, not a one time event. We recommend staying informed and participating in more upcoming actions by following and connecting with The Philly Palestine Coalition, and learning about organized boycotts from the BDS Movement.
We also encourage you to attend the upcoming “Educators for Palestine: Teach-In and Training” on January 13th hosted by the Racial Justice Organizing Committee.
The online petition referred to in the circular above reads as follows:
We, members of the American labor movement, mourn the loss of life in Israel and Palestine. We express our solidarity with all workers and our common desire for peace in Palestine and Israel, and we call on President Joe Biden and Congress to push for an immediate ceasefire and end to the siege of Gaza. We cannot bomb our way to peace. We also condemn any hate crimes against Muslims, Jews, or anyone else.
In issuing this call, U.S. unions are joining the efforts of 13 Congressmembers and others who are calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The basic rights of people must be restored. Water, fuel, food, and other humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza, power must be restored, and foreign nationals and Palestinians requiring medical care must be allowed out of Gaza.
The Israeli hostages taken by Hamas must be immediately released. Both Hamas and Israel must adhere to standards of international law and Geneva Convention rules of warfare concerning the welfare and security of civilians.
There must be a ceasefire in Gaza. The cycle of violence must stop so that negotiations for an enduring peace proceed.
The U.S. must act. We call on President Biden to immediately call for a ceasefire.
The road to justice cannot be paved by bombs and war. The road to peace cannot be found through warfare. We commit ourselves to work in solidarity with the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to achieve peace and justice.
Union members come from diverse backgrounds, including Jews, Muslims, and Middle Eastern communities. The rising escalation of war and arms sales doesn’t serve the interests of workers anywhere. In the end, we all want a place to call home and for our children to be safe. Working people around the world want and deserve to live free from the effects of violence, war and militarization.
Thousands of Americans have joined the groundswell of global solidarity demanding a ceasefire now.
It’s the labor movement’s turn to make our voices heard and demand a ceasefire. Together, we can stand for peace, justice, and a better future for working people everywhere.
On the website hosting the petition, the following 82 organisations are listed as having signed:
- UAW [national]
- UFCW 3000
- UE (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America)
- 4Cs SEIU Local 1973
- AFSCME Local 1215
- AFSCME Local 3425
- AFT Washington
- AVP Unites OPEIU Local 153 AFL-CIO
- Amarillo Education Association
- Amazon Labor Union Democratic Reform Caucus
- American Federation of Teachers – Oregon
- American Postal Workers Union, Local 140
- American Postal Workers Union, Local 390
- Amherst Pelham Education Association
- Austin Central Labor Council
- Boston Teachers Union
- California Faculty Union, Los Angeles/SEIU 198
- Chicago Teachers Union
- Coalition of Graduate Employees AFT local 6069
- Coalition of Labor Union Women
- Communications Workers of America Local 7250
- Communities and Postal Workers United
- Democratic Socialists of America Union
- Education Austin, Local #2048 (NEA/AFT)
- Faculty Staff Union, University of Massachusetts (Boston)
- Field Services Organization (Massachusetts)
- GEU-UAW, Local 6950, Univ. of CT
- GTFF – AFT Local 3544
- Graduate Employees’ Organizing Committee, AFT Local 6123, Wayne State Univ.
- Graduate Labor Organization, Brown University, Local 6516
- Harvard Graduate Students Union HGSU-UAW Local 5118
- IBEW Local 520
- IBEW 553
- IBEW 58
- Industrial Workers of the World
- Industrial Workers of the World Mid-Valley Branch
- Industrial Workers of the World, NYC General Membership Branch
- Industrial Workers of the World, North Star Branch
- International Union of Painters & Allied Trades, District 35
- Labor Express Radio
- Labor Rise Climate Jobs Action Group
- Malden Education Association
- Massachusetts Teachers Association
- Melrose Education Association
- NJ State Industrial Union Council
- New Paltz Chapter Exec. Cmte., United University Professions, AFT Local 2190
- New Seasons Labor Union •
- OPAL Workers Union
- OPEIU Local 8
- Oregon Education Association
- PNWSU 3000
- PROTEC17
- Pacific Media Workers Guild, CWA Local 39521
- Philadelphia Labor for Black Lives Coalition
- Portland Association of Teachers
- Portland Jobs with Justice
- Pride at Work/Eastern Massachusetts
- Restaurant Workers United
- Rutgers AAUP-AFT Executive Council
- SEIU-United Service Workers West (USWW)
- San Antonio Alliance of Teachers & Support Personnel NEA/AFT Local 67
- San Antonio AFL-CIO Central Labor Council
- Saint Paul Federation of Educators, Local 28
- Seattle Education Association
- TAUP, AFT 4531
- Tacoma Education Association
- UAW Region 6
- UAW Region 9A
- UFCW Local 1459
- UAW Local 2865
- UNITE HERE Local 8
- USW Local 9544
- Unemployed Workers United
- Union of Unite Here Staff
- Union of United Staff –
- Teamsters Local 223
- Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD)
- United Academics – University of New Mexico, AFT/AAUP Local 6662
- United for the Many
- United Labor of Tufts Resident Assistants (OPEIU Local 153)
- United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local 36
- Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation (AFL-CIO
