Part of GDC’s International May Day 2024 Campaign
Days into the zionist bombardment of Gaza, a broad coalition of Palestinian Trade Unions across Palestine in October called people internationally to refuse to build or transport arms to israel, to take action within their unions, and to act against complicit institutions to halt the arms trade and military funding + research. Coordinated actions erupted in response at the Port of Melbourne, the Port of Genoa, and the Port of Oakland to block ZIM container ships from carrying arms to Israel.
Another response this year came from the Water Transport Workers Federation of India, representing 3,500 workers at 11 major Indian ports, calling on their members to no longer handle, load, or unload any ships carrying military equipment or weaponized cargos to israel. “We call upon the workers of the world to stand with the demand of Free Palestine.” Particularly significant due to the unique position of Indian ports as alternatives amid the Red Sea Blockade.
Most recently the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions – Gaza Strip stated, “Instead of celebrating with you on May 1st, International Workers Day, we are busy shrouding dozens of people who are being killed in a genocidal war against our people.” They note in their statement the shocking neglect by the international labor movement, and that US unions must expose the American position in enabling zionist aggression. “This May Day and Nakba Day…take action to disrupt the flow of commerce that sustains Israel’s military occupation and exploitation of Palestinian workers…Fellow workers in the arms and transport sectors consider that your livelihoods should not be based on the destruction of our homeland and lives.”
Hamas recently called transportation unions and port workers to not work with zionist shipping companies, to escalate boycotts against the zionist occupation, and called workers of the world to act in solidarity with the workers of Palestine, tens of thousands of whom lost permits to work as a part of Israel’s attempts to starve and exterminate the Palestinian people. “Let International Workers’ Day be a cry in the face of injustice and zionist aggression against the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.”
American unions, tax dollars, and workplaces fund and arm Israel; labor must be organized to stop the US-Israeli war machine!