Labour CND calls out Unite for stance on Palestine arms protests
JVL Introduction
The position taken by Unite the Union’s current leadership on Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians has caused consternation among members, including some in the Green Party, since early in the current wave of protests. Now, to the delight of Israel’s apologists, the union is arousing anger for opposing pickets of arms manufacturers linked to the Israeli military.
We are pleased to reproduce below a comprehensive statement from Labour CND on the subject, dated March 30.
It expresses alarm that Unite, a Labour Party affiliated union, is showing signs of following Keir Starmer’s example in restricting “the conduct of legitimate, democratic debate about UK defence policy.”
“Any suggestion that groups such as ours, which include many trade union members, should be prevented from building support for our position is undemocratic, and carries undertones of bans such as those we are witnessing in the Labour Party,” the statement says.
It says the international labour movement, “including trade unions in Britain, should be working to uphold the principles of international solidarity, justice and peace, including support for a world free of weapons of mass destruction.
“That is why we have consistently argued the need for a real defence diversification strategy so workers are protected and able to transition to alternative work. We support the role of trade unions to play a leading part in that process.”
NWI
This article was originally published by Labour CND on Sat 30 Mar 2024. Read the original here.
Why Unite the Union is wrong to attack groups picketing weapons manufacturing companies
Labour CND is extremely concerned to read the letter recently sent to Unite officers, organisers, and staff by General Secretary Sharon Graham and Chair Andy Green, which is now circulating in the public domain.
The GS and Chair alert recipients to ‘a number of extremely troubling actions being undertaken by a tiny minority of individuals, inside and outside of our union… a small number [of whom] are linked to groups who want us to make decisions detrimental to our membership and their jobs.’
We reproduce below that section of the letter which relates to Palestine – described by Graham and Green as one of their ‘key areas’ of concern – together with Labour CND’s statement.
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It’s not only Labour CND. As a JVL member I was pleased to see this recently.
https://communist.red/sharon-grahams-unite-palestine-and-imperialism/
I have just heard UK Foreign Minister speak the most utter drivel I have ever heard. Being interviewed on sky news he said ..
Iran attacking Israel was “reckless”.
Journalist: What would Britain do if our consulate was flattened?
Cameron looking like a deer caught in headlights replied “well we would take very strong action”. You could not make this up.
Cameron should be locked up, correction, he should be put in a mental institution where he cannot do any harm to himself, or us.
https://twitter.com/KevorkAlmassian/status/1779829528233185348
The Labour Party has a very selective attitude towards fiscal responsibility:
Save the planet: Cannot afford it due to the need to be fiscally responsible. There is no magic money tree.
Threaten to destroy the planet with nuclear weapons:
No problem finding the money. Fiscal responsibility does not apply.
Increase the already bloated military budget:
Again, fiscal responsibility does not apply.