As trade unionists in Scotland, we express our unwavering solidarity with our comrades in Palestine. We understand the Palestinian struggle to be part of a broader struggle for freedom, equality and justice, and the liberation of oppressed people as being inextricably linked to the struggles of workers in Scotland and elsewhere.
We pledge to demonstrate our solidarity with Palestinian workers through action and active participation in the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS). We further commit to encouraging our fellow trade unionists, friends, family and communities to do the same.
Palestinian workers call for solidarity
We recognise that Palestinian workers suffer severely under Israel’s regime of settler colonialism and apartheid. As the butchery has escalated, a primary objective of Israel’s far right regime has included the systematic targeting of workers such as healthcare workers and journalists.
Decades of methodical destruction of the Palestinian economy, implementation of discriminatory and racist laws, and restrictions on freedom of movement and association have impacted significantly on the rights and working conditions of Palestinian workers. Despite operating under these conditions, trade unions have long been at the heart of the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.
We recognise that all major Palestinian trade unions are signatories to the Palestinian civil society call for BDS. Palestinian workers and trade unions have for 20 years appealed to trade union bodies internationally and to rank and file trade union members to take action.
Our role
Our trade unions must play a key role in supporting the struggles of workers and the Palestinian people who face an existential threat under Israeli genocide and ethnic cleansing. Our solidarity work should include engaging and building links with progressive unions such as the Palestine New Federation of Trade Unions (the New Unions).
Many of our unions have endorsed BDS, but in practice this is often not fully enacted. We commit to building a rank-and-file understanding which correctly frames the Palestinian struggle as anti-racist, anti-colonial and anti-capitalist. It is in our power to ensure our unions implement policy and we will work to realise this and to oppose anti-Palestinian racism in all its forms.
Further, we offer our unequivocal support to and applaud the example of workers who are refusing to handle BDS non-compliant goods.
Defend our rights
Domestic repression is inevitable when aggression overseas is met with opposition and resistance. Repression at home has included smears of racism, numerous political trials of activists in Scotland, a growing number of political prisoners following direct action, and an armed response to activists holding a supermarket protest in Aberdeen. As Trump was rounding up and deporting students who protest the slaughter in Gaza, police raided the Quaker meeting house in London to arrest six women holding a meeting over the climate and Gaza. The tyranny is the same, driven by service to the interests of the rich and powerful.
Anti-Palestinian racism does not only target Palestinians but also their advocates to dehumanise and discredit Palestinians, their history, identity and lived experience. We stand in incontrovertible solidarity with all those suffering such repressive measures domestically and internationally.
Apartheid Free Zones
Just as Palestinians are steadfast in their resistance to occupation, settler colonialism, apartheid and genocide, we stand with them in solidarity and comradeship. We can start by declaring our support for BDS and Palestinian freedom, equality and justice by making our trade union branches and trades councils Apartheid Free Zones.