There may be a 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 will take 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 is 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’s 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.
The day of action has been called by the groups organising the national demonstrations and protests for Palestine and it has the backing of the TUC. It’s 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.
Union branches are organising 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 have organised events at the Wills Memorial Building and Senate House at 1pm and 1:45pm respectively to demand that the University of Bristol cut its ties with arms companies and complicity with the Israeli genocide.
In Cambridge there will be a rally outside Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge from 1pm organised by UCU, Cambridge StW, Cambridge PSC and Cambridge 4 Palestine.
In Oxford there’s a lunchtime march and rally, assembling at Clarendon Steps, Broad Street at 12:30pm. This has been 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 will also be family friendly arts and crafts with Parents 4 Palestine and student groups are calling a walkout to participate in the rally.
A lunchtime street stall in Southampton, at the junction of New Road and Above Bar, will be 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.
And in York, the UCU branch at York St John’s university has organised an afternoon reading session for staff and students from Palestinian writer and poet Mosab Abu Toha’s new book of poems, and participants will also hear updates from Gaza and the West Bank, and our continued Palestine solidarity protests in the UK.
In London, there will be 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.
These are just a few of the actions being planned by trade unionists for the day of action. Get your colleagues involved and join the ever-growing call on Keir Starmer and David Lammy to end their support for Israel.
Send us an email to let us know what action is happening in your workplace and tag us in social media pics and videos on the day using the hashtag #Workplaces4Palestine