Unions Act to Isolate Israel
20. Jun, 2010
Print This Article!
0 Comments
CFMEU NSW Secretary Andrew Ferguson at Gaza solidarity march. Photo by Peter Boyle.
By Dick Nichols
The movement for Australian union action against Israel is gaining strength after the apartheid state’s latest murderous attack on the unarmed aid flotilla to Gaza.
The South Coast Labour Council (SCLC) and the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory branches of the Australian Services Union have joined the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union in committing to the international boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against the aggressive Israeli state.
Australian unions and peak bodies have also called on members to attend the many protest actions.
The union campaign demanding an active boycott of Israel began in this country with the January 2009 ban on Israel cargo imposed by the Western Australian branch of the Maritime Union of Australia. The ban came after the Durban branch of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union refused to unload cargo from Israel.
SCLC secretary Arthur Rorris said: “A boycott of Israeli goods produced in the illegal settlements is a good way for the international community to send a strong message to the Israeli leadership that humanity will not turn a blind eye to the injustice … inflicted on the Palestinian people.”
We must now make the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions)campaign the policy of the entire union movement, just as in the days of the anti-apartheid bans against South Africa.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and state trades and labour councils have so far avoided taking meaningful action against Israeli interests, restricting themselves to calls for restraint.
To make a difference, the Australian union movement should follow the lead recently set by the British University and College Union.
Its 2010 congress last week voted overwhelmingly to “sever all relations with [the Israeli trade union federation] Histadrut, and to urge other trade unions and bodies to do likewise”.
It also proposed to: “Seek in conjunction with other trade unions, nationally and internationally, to establish an annual international conference on BDS (Boycott. Divestment and Sanctions), a trade union-sponsored BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions)website and a research centre on commercial, cultural and academic complicity with Israeli breaches of international law.
This is the only sort of action the Israeli government understands.
Other Australian unions can make a difference for Palestine by supporting the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign and demanding that the ACTU do the same.
More Australian trade unions join Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel
In the wake of the murderous Israeli commando attack on an unarmed aid flotilla to Gaza on May 31, more trade unions in Australia are joining the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel. Here Andrew Ferguson, the NSW Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union (CFMEU) addresses the Sydney June 5, 2010 Gaza solidarity rally. He is introduced by Pip Hinman of the Stop The War Coalition.
Source: http://www.greenleft.org.au/
|
|
|
|
|
 |
If you liked this article, please consider making a donation to Intifada Palestine by clicking on the following PayPal link. Thank you!
The movement for Australian union action against the aggressive,arrogant and apartheid country like Israel is praiseworthy and obviously will gain strength very rapidly as the number of peace loving people in this planet are much more higher than of the aggressors.
Other country’s business & financial concerns,trade unions etc. should start adopting policy which will support BDS against Israel and start immediate actions.
Thanks to South Coast Labour Council(SCLC)
British University and College Union,Mr.Andrew Ferguson(Secretary,CFMEU,NSW) and others who have joined in the march of BDS campaign against Israel.
This may be the only non-violent way of resisting the rise of a Frankenstein Israel who is the real enemy of civilization,peace and mankind.
May GOD bless you all and the Palestinians.
[Reply]
petethommes Reply:
June 20th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
excellent idea but america will never join you. we are totally controlled by israel. sad but true. congatulations on your stand, i only wish somebody in the u.s. would have the guts to do the same
[Reply]
The world must act anyway possible, avoiding violence, to free the Palestinians. The Israelis have no right to be there as they cannot trace their origins to Palestine. They are Ashkenaze east European converted Jews and they should just leave.
America has an Israeli occupied Government. About 50% of Obama`s advisors and staff hold Israeli passports. How can America accept this?
It is apparent that it is up to the rest of the world Australia, European Union and the Arab League to exercise as much pressure so as to make these foreigners get out of Palestine.
[Reply]
I am from vancouver,canada and i wanted to say that the unions of Australia are doing the right thing in joining the BDS campagne against Israel.There are some unions in canada doing that but there needs to be more.This is the kind of action that will bring down the apartheid israeli gov.Keep up the good work.
[Reply]