TUC VOTES TO BOYCOTT ISRAEL
General Council statement on the Middle East
TUC Congress, Thursday 17 September 2009.
The TUC reiterates its belief that only when a sovereign, independent, democratic contiguous and viable Palestinian state is created, living side by side with a secure Israel will there be a chance for peace and stability in the Middle East. We remain committed to a two-state solution to the crisis in the Middle East and support for the Road Map. We recognize the enormous suffering of the Palestinian people, and we call upon the British Government to make appropriate representations to the international community to secure lasting peace through a negotiated settlement based on mutual respect and self-determination, on justice for the Palestinians and on security for Israel.
The TUC reiterates its condemnation of the Government of Israel’s offensive in Gaza which resulted in 1,450 Palestinian deaths and 5,000 injured, as well as the massive, systematic destruction of infrastructure. We also reiterate our condemnation of the rocket attacks from inside Gaza against Israeli civilians. We welcome the findings of the UN investigation which highlighted possible war crimes on both sides of the conflict. The TUC remains concerned about the situation in Gaza and reiterates its opposition to the Israeli blockade, which is in contravention of international law and prevents vital supplies from reaching the people of Gaza. We welcome the contributions unions made earlier this year to the TUC Aid appeal for Gaza.
As a result of the Gaza offensive, the TUC calls on the British Government to:
(a) condemn the Israeli military aggression and the continuing blockade of Gaza;
(b) end arms sales to Israel which reached a value of £18.8 million in 2008, up from £7.7 million in 2007;
(c) seek EU agreement to impose a ban on the importing of goods produced in the illegal settlements; and
(d) support moves to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement which provides preferential trade facilities to Israel.
The TUC reiterates our pledge to work in solidarity with the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and urges unions to support financially the TUC/PGFTU projects funded through TUC Aid as well as the joint Histadrut-PGFTU projects being developed in several sectors under the auspices of Global Union Federations. We welcome the resolution last year of the longstanding dispute over the remittance of membership subscriptions from the Histadrut to the PGFTU, which was brokered by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and support any stronger relations between the Histadrut and the PGFTU that they wish to develop.
The TUC condemns the Histadrut statement of 13 January 2009 which backed the attacks on Gaza and showed insufficient concern for the level of civilian casualties. At the same time, we recognize the recent Histadrut resolution on peace and co-operation, welcomed by the ITUC, which calls on the Israeli government ‘to make concessions and take courageous and concrete steps towards attaining peace.’ We will continue to press Histadrut to take a firmer line on these issues. The General Council will raise Congress’ concerns with the Histadrut and report back to Congress on future relationships.
To increase the pressure for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories, and the removal of the separation wall and the illegal settlements, we will support a boycott (where trade union members should not put their own jobs at risk by refusing to deal with such products) of those goods and agricultural products that originate in illegal settlements - through developing an effective, targeted consumer-led boycott campaign working closely with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign - and campaign for disinvestment by companies associated with the occupation as well as engaged in building the separation wall. In undertaking these actions each affiliate will operate within its own aims and objectives and within the law.
We reiterate our encouragement to unions to affiliate to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and to raise greater awareness of the issues.
You’re title is spinning it a bit Andy. It’s a boycott of settlement goods and companies involved with the occupation. This isn’t what the FBU or the boycotters were going for. Their motion called for a full boycott and divestment policy. I presume this didn’t happen. Also interesting to see the TUC supports a 2 states settlement which again is not what the boycotters (PACBI especially) support. Perhaps your headline could have read “TUC Rejects Boycott and Divesment Motion and Re-Affirms its belief in a 2 state Solution” . Boycotters also called on the breaking of links with the Histadrut which again they don’t seem to have succeeded in. Infact the motion supports PGFtU / Histadrut co=operation.
Comment by Bennett — 17 September, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
As it is impossible to tell whether goods are produced in the territory of the Israeli state or in the Occupied Territories the safest thing is to boycott all goods from Israel.
Comment by Nick Wright — 17 September, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
Collar ain’t matching cuffs here. The TUC has *not* voted to boycott Israel.
Comment by ibs — 17 September, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
I don’t agree with that NIck, the trouble is there is also no way of telling whether goods are produced by Palestinians in the occupied territory either, as all good from the West Bank go through Israeli ports, and are often labelled as Israeli.
This is one of the points made to our delegation when we visited a few years back
Comment by Andy Newman — 17 September, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
#1
Well I don’t know what your definitions of a boycott is, but the following section from the motion reads to me like a boycott:
(b) end arms sales to Israel which reached a value of £18.8 million in 2008, up from £7.7 million in 2007;
(c) seek EU agreement to impose a ban on the importing of goods produced in the illegal settlements; and
(d) support moves to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement which provides preferential trade facilities to Israel.
It doesn’t go far enough, I agree, but, hey, the genie’s out of the bottle and this represents a seismic shift. Think about it, the British trade union movement, representing millions of British workers, has decided to take action in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Massive, I’d say.
Comment by Anonymous — 17 September, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
The General Council statement was considerably harder than the first version which Unite and Unison both refused to accept. It is also harder than the draft produced yesterday which both the Unite and Unison delegations agreed to support with reservations. Congress started 45 minutes late this morning because the GC were still meeting trying to agree the draft.
PSC have welcomed the statement as a move forwards.
Also Congress passed overwhelmingly the FBU motion that called for a stronger boycott.
It will be up to activists in each union to make sure the policy is taken forward.
Comment by PW — 17 September, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Whatever the minor issues this still is a landmark decision which also called for an end to arms sales to Israel and an end to the blockade. The PSC have welcomed it as a breakthrough. The BBC has omitted it from their news broadcasts as expected. The TUC also supported in the main the aims of the “Peoples Charter”.
A good day for the left and a good congress for the trade union movement.
Comment by Alfie — 17 September, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
We still came over as victims and out of touch
do comrades not hear how we (TUC) were reported in the red tops
high heel hating
anti talent competitions anti Jewish
that will have them rolling into the unions
Comment by sean — 17 September, 2009 @ 11:11 pm
This is really fantastic news. We can argue about how certain details but as a whole this is both a radical gain for Palestinian solidarity and for political trade-unionism
Comment by mt — 17 September, 2009 @ 11:12 pm
Welcome aboard partners!
Scottish TUC commits decisively for Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions
Scottish PSC
22 April 2009
Scotland today joined Ireland and South Africa when the Scottish Trade Union Congress, representing every Scottish trade union, voted overwhelmingly to commit to boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. This is the third example of a national trade union federation committing to BDS and is a clear indication that, while Israel can kill Palestinians with impunity and Western support, it has lost the battle for world public opinion. It is now seen to be a state born out of ethnic cleansing and still expanding through the violent dispossession of the Palestinian people.
Comment by joe90 kane — 17 September, 2009 @ 11:37 pm
About time, and not nearly enough, but it’s a huge step forward. Hallelujah!
Comment by jock mctrousers — 18 September, 2009 @ 8:33 am
I agree it is a massive victory for campaigners in solidarity with the Palestinians and a huge step forward
This statement contains fundamentally racist clauses, for example it only mentions ’security’ for Israel, it commits to supporting the Roadmap rather than UN resolutions calling for a complete end to the occupation of West Bank, Gaza & East Jerusalem & Right of Return for Refugees, it also fails to recognise the oppression of Palestinians within Israel - for example, the banning of Arab citizens from working on railways & denial of right to live or rent on 90% of Israel (imagine if Britain banned Black people from working on the railways and said that they couldn’t own or rent on 90% of Britain)
Nevertheless that the TUC has even taken any steps is a massive step forward! And the fact that this is now on the agenda means that we can push for better positions.
Comment by Adamski — 18 September, 2009 @ 10:48 am
Incidentally, one thing I was quite proud of was when students occupied at Cardiff University in solidarity with Gaza, after much extremely intensive discussion and debate, the students raised alongside other demands the oppression of Palestinians within Israel and the racial nature of the State.
I was also proud that this led to a special mention of Cardiff from Omar Barghouti, one of the leaders of the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions movement.
Comment by Adamski — 18 September, 2009 @ 11:07 am
I’m a bit confused about the different motions and what has been decided by whom (never having attended the TUC), can someone clarify???
For example, someone writes -
‘Also Congress passed overwhelmingly the FBU motion that called for a stronger boycott.’
Does this mean that the statement that Andy highlights was passed, but also a motion calling for a stronger boycott?
Comment by Adamski — 18 September, 2009 @ 11:13 am
“As it is impossible to tell whether goods are produced in the territory of the Israeli state or in the Occupied Territories the safest thing is to boycott all goods from Israel.”
Yeah Nick those Jews are all the same.
Presumably that Is CPB policy and presumably Monty Goldman and Mary Davis agree with you (not).
Comment by Hugh — 18 September, 2009 @ 11:31 am
Good to see the TUC remains `committed to the two-state solution’. Pity there isn’t one. But you can always rely on bureaucrats to make it look like they are supporting one side when they are really covering for the other.
Comment by Pah! — 18 September, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
Another goon who can’t tell the difference between Israelis and Jews.
Comment by Hugh Idiot — 18 September, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
15 This shuggy is a schlumpf
Comment by Nick Wright — 18 September, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
“This shuggy is a schlumpf”
Brilliant wit Nick! You must be Oscar Wilde’s long lost love child.
Why don’t you get together with the genius at #17 and rewrite the Communist Manifesto. The workers of the world need your leadership (not).
Comment by Hugh — 18 September, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
#14 - A much stronger FBU motion in solidarity with the Palestinian people was passed (and a wrecking amendment to it from the GMB defeated) as well as the weaker TUC General Council statement. But a GC statement takes precedence over a policy motion when it comes to determining the work of the TUC over the coming period. Unfortunately so, in this case.
#15 - I suspect Hugh is no more interested in the Communist Party’s view than in anyone else’s, being one of those uncritical apologists for every Israeli war, massacre and occupation. But for anyone else who wishes to know, the CPB’s policy is set out in the Party’s 50th Congress main international resolution (available at www.communist-party.org.uk). A lengthy section on Palestine includes this:
“Communists should work through their trade union organisations to create and develop links with sister unions in Palestine, to assist those trade unions through support for appropriate boycotts of Israeli goods and services and divestment campaigns from financial investment in the Israeli economy and to oppose the direct involvement of British firms in Israel, in particular through the arms trade and the construction of the Apartheid Wall. This campaign is of the utmost importance as international financial investment in Israel has risen to record levels”.
Comment by Party hack — 18 September, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
#20
“support for appropriate boycotts of Israeli goods and services”
Much like what the TUC propose and not at all like Nick’s blanket boycott then.
“Hugh is no more interested in the Communist Party’s view than in anyone else’s, being one of those uncritical apologists for every Israeli war, massacre and occupation”
Did you learn mind-reading at cadre school? My whole life is laid bare under your inscrutable reading between lines of my meagre word count (not).
Comment by Hugh — 18 September, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
Shuggy (19)
My granddad – who was a Whitechapel cabinet maker – once called me a schlumpf (or shlump) because I messed up a carpentry job.
It means careless or slovenly. But was wrong to describe you thus. You are not negligent but simply have lost the plot.
Schlemazl is a better word.
Comment by Nick Wright — 18 September, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
Listen everybody - I can use words such as ‘inscrutable’ and ‘meagre’ pointlessly and inaccurately in the same sentence. And if you’re not impressed I can make references to Oscat Wilde. Look at me (er… not).
Comment by Hugh (not) — 18 September, 2009 @ 10:10 pm
As far as I can tell, the PSC considers Tel Aviv and Haifa to be “illegal settlements.” So I’m not sure how that’s going to work.
Here’s a statement from the dreaded Histadrut:
http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/Histadrut_Resolution_Peace_and_Cooperation-August_2009-revised.pdf
Terrible, isn’t it?
The Histadrut, as a genuinely free trade union, is frequently at odds with the Israeli government. This is in marked contrast to the government-affiliated CTC in Cuba.
http://survey09.ituc-csi.org/survey.php?IDContinent=2&IDCountry=CUB&Lang=EN
While Brendan Barber proclaims solidarity with the CTC and ignores Cuba’s imprisoned free trade unionists, the American AFL-CIO has a more principled position.
http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-16398-f0.cfm?theme=brendan
http://www.cubarespondeinternational.org/2008/07/letter-from-president-of-afl-ciio-to.html
Comment by Gene — 19 September, 2009 @ 1:16 am
#20 Party Hack is incorrect to say that the GMB amendment was defeated. They withdrew it in favour of the General Council statement - which demonstrates the weakness of the statement. They then voted against the stronger FBU Motion 76. This was carried overwhelmingly.
The reality was that most union delegations supported a stronger boycott and breaking the relations with Histradut. But the Amalgamated Union of General Secretaries were keen to adopt a consensus statement after pressure from Downing Street.
It was quite open that the Government didn’t want Motion 76 passed. This illustrates what is likely to happen more generally in the run up to the General Election.
Comment by PW — 19 September, 2009 @ 8:52 am
23 Your biting satire is cruel and your penetrating perception of my motives in commenting here makes me blush. But why don’t you turn your formidable critical faculties to the most useful comment so far…
I refer to sean at no. 8 who correctly assigns counter-productive futility to the TUC Israel motion when put in context of the important task of organizing workers in this historic economic depression and mass unemployment.
So Nick 22 it is you and your sickeningly self-righteous posturing cohorts who have “lost the plot” Enough with the cod-Yiddish already! Your grandfather must be turning in his grave.
Comment by Hugh — 19 September, 2009 @ 12:02 pm