PALESTINE - the key international issue at this year's Trade Unions Congress

Palestine Solidarity Campaign Press Release [16 September 2009) - At this week's Trades Union Congress in Liverpool, the key issue is Palestine - and the practical steps unions should take for solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The motion submitted by the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU), scheduled for debate tomorrow (Thursday 17 September) calls on the trade union movement to build a mass movement to boycott, disinvest and place sanctions on Israel.

Hugh Lanning, Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), said 'Israel's brutal and horrific war on Gaza in December and January shocked trade union members worldwide. Now is time for action. International governments refuse to apply international law. This allows Israel to flout fundamental human rights legislation, such as the Fourth Geneva Convention, with impunity. The trade union movement has a responsibility to increase the pressure on Israel in order to bring peace and justice to the region - this includes a targeted, consumer boycott of Israeli
goods.'

Hugh Lanning continued: 'PSC welcomes the discussion and debate amongst unions on how to increase solidarity with Palestine, and will be working closely with the TUC and its union affiliates to take forward the campaign'.

At a successful fringe meeting organized by Palestine Solidarity Campaign yesterday evening (15 September), speakers from a wide range of trade unions expressed the need for solidarity and support with the Palestinians.

Mick Shaw, president of the FBU, said Palestinian trade unionists ‘want to see international pressure applied on Israel. One of the most effective ways is boycott - which means an end to the arms trade and sale of settlement goods, suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement, and a targeted consumer boycott’.

Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary of UNITE said that 'people say that somehow you have to have balance - look at the devastation caused by the bombing of Gaza - it's not a fair fight' and said that unions 'have to step up to the mark and get practical'.

Mike Kirby, Scottish Convenor of UNISON, who was part of a recent delegation from the Scottish TUC to the West Bank, talked of the STUC's ‘long engagement with rights for the Palestinian people'. He said the STUC were adopting a 'rights-based approach, supporting boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel and encouraging investment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories'.

Billy Hayes, General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said it was 'right as trade unions that we don't stand by on the issue of Palestine’.

Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT, said that his union ‘will be pursuing a policy of boycott and disinvestment'

Professor Manuel Hassassian, Palestinian General Delegate to the UK, said a boycott, disinvestment and sanctions movement was necessary because 'international law has failed dismally, and the UN Security Council has failed to act in Palestine whilst it is quick to act for others'.

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For further details: Sarah Colborne, PSC Director of Campaigns and Communications: 07971 424296

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For further information on the PSC: www.palestinecampaign.org

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For copies of the FBU motion tabled for the TUC: http://www.congressvoices.org/2009/76-palestine/