Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand
Palestine Forum of New Zealand (PFNZ) is calling on the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (NZCTU) to follow the lead of the UK trade union movement and take meaningful action in support of Palestinian rights.
The call follows a significant decision by the UK’s Trades Union Congress (TUC), representing more than 5.3 million workers, which has unanimously backed a motion supporting the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The motion calls for action to oppose what it describes as the catastrophic destruction of Gaza and Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank. It includes calls for an end to military cooperation and arms deals with Israel, wide-ranging sanctions, divestment from companies complicit in violations of international law, and support for trade union-led workplace action.
PFNZ believes the New Zealand trade union movement should now have the same conversation.
“New Zealand workers and trade unions have a long history of standing up for justice, human rights and workers’ rights internationally,” said Maher Nazzal, Founder and Spokesperson of Palestine Forum of New Zealand.
“The UK trade union movement has taken a clear position that solidarity with Palestinian workers cannot stop at statements. It is calling for collective action against complicity.
“We are asking NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi to consider what meaningful action New Zealand’s trade union movement can take.
“This is not about asking one organisation to speak for everyone. It is about opening a serious conversation within the New Zealand labour movement about what solidarity with Palestinian workers and the Palestinian people should look like in practice.”
PFNZ is calling on NZCTU to:
- publicly consider and support Palestinian-led BDS initiatives;
- review trade union investments, procurement and relationships to identify links with companies involved in or benefiting from violations of Palestinian rights;
- support measures to end military and economic complicity with violations of international law;
- strengthen solidarity with Palestinian trade unions and workers;
- support workplace and union-led initiatives for Palestinian rights; and
- raise these issues with the New Zealand Government, including the need for stronger action concerning the occupation, settlements and settler violence.
New Zealand has already joined international partners in sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in financing and enabling settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
PFNZ says the question now is whether New Zealand’s civil society and trade union movements are prepared to build on that position.
“Workers’ solidarity has always crossed borders,” Nazzal said.
“Palestinian workers and trade unionists are part of the global labour movement. When workers elsewhere face injustice, trade unions have historically understood that solidarity means more than words.
“We encourage NZCTU to engage with its affiliated unions, Palestinian representatives and civil society organisations and consider following the example now being set by the UK trade union movement.
The UK has shown that trade unions can act collectively. We are asking New Zealand’s trade union movement to consider doing the same.”