There may be a very fragile ceasefire in Gaza, but the horror of Israel’s genocide is still playing out live on our screens. The IDF’s deadly raids in Jenin and elsewhere in the West Bank, along with its continued bombing across the Middle East, and US president Trump’s blatant commitment to ethnically cleansing the strip, make it necessary for the trade union movement to put as much pressure as possible on the UK government to end its complicity.
That is why workers and students across the country took action in workplaces and colleges this Thursday (13 February) in solidarity with the people of Palestine, and to demand that Britain stops arming Israel.
It was also vital, in this #HeartUnions week, a week the Trades Union Congress (TUC) dedicates to telling the stories of why unions are vital for everyone at work, that there was a strong message about the importance of trade union membership in order to provide working people with protection if they face discrimination and disciplinary action for taking part in pro-Palestine protests and other actions.
As in November, this workplace day of action had the backing of the TUC and was called by the groups organising the national demonstrations and protests for Palestine. It’s was an opportunity to escalate the resistance to the genocide, and to bring trade unionists and other workers who haven’t previously been on our national demonstrations into the anti-war movement.
National unions, including Unison, supported the day, with staff and lay members joining in.
Staff members of GMB at ASLEF HQ raised money for Medical Aid for Palestinians
Unison NEC members showed solidarity with Palestinian workers
GMB members at RMT HQ standing in full solidarity with the people of Palestine
Unite members working at NEU HQ join #Workplaces4Palestine
Union branches organised actions ranging from lunchtime rallies, walk outs and silences, to stalls, bake sales or simply wearing badges and Palestinian scarves.
Bristol StW, Bristol CND, University College Workers for Palestine, UCU, Bristol PSC, PFB & MAB organised events rallies to demand that the University of Bristol cut its ties with arms companies and complicity with the Israeli genocide.
In Cambridge there was a rally outside Great St Mary’s Church organised by UCU, Cambridge StW, Cambridge PSC and Cambridge 4 Palestine.
In Oxford there was a lunchtime march and rally called by Oxford StW, PSC Oxford, University of Oxford UCU, Oxford City Unison, Unite the Union Oxford, Oxford University Arab Society, OS4P, Parents for Palestine Oxford, Health Workers 4 Palestine, Rhodes Scholars for Palestine.
There was also a family friendly arts and crafts session with Parents 4 Palestine, while student groups called a walkout to participate in the rally.
A lunchtime street stall in Southampton was an opportunity for passers-by to sign a petition to local MPs calling on them to demand a permanent ceasefire and an end to the British government arming Israel.
Unison members in Portsmouth say No to Ethnic Cleansing
Brighton UCU proud to support #Workplaces4Palestine
And in York, the UCU branch at York St John’s university organised an afternoon reading session for staff and students from Palestinian writer and poet Mosab Abu Toha’s new book of poems. Participants also heard updates from Gaza and the West Bank, and our continued Palestine solidarity protests in the UK.
In London, there were lunchtime rallies outside Hackney College, organised by the UCU branch, at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, organised by Tower Hamlets StW, Tower Hamlets PSC, NEU and Tower Hamlets Trades Council, and on the steps of City and Islington College Holloway Centre, called by the local UCU.
Unison members at Queen Mary University London say Free Palestine
Striking PCS members at G4S put Palestine on the picket line
PCS members on strike for more pay at ISS stand up for Palestine
Kings College London saw a huge rally of staff and students
These were just a few of the actions that took place on our latest workplace day of action. Watch out for the date of the next one, and get your colleagues involved to join the ever-growing call on Keir Starmer and David Lammy to end their support for Israel.
#Workplaces4Palestine