PCS calls for sanctions, arms embargo, war crimes investigation
trade union dinosaur | 21.05.2002 09:46
PCS, the union representing UK government workers (benefit office staff etc) passed the following motions at its national conference in Brighton last week:
A102
That this conference is deeply concerned about the breakdown in the Middle East peace process and calls for all positive steps to be taken to reach a lasting solution which will provide an independent and sovereign state of Palestine under the provisions of the UN resolutions. Conference pays tribute to the brave work being undertaken by the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unionists (PGFTU) in its attempts to secure a peaceful solution. Conference therefore condemns the bombing of their HQ in Nabulus on 17 February by Israeli defence force helicopters at a time when the PGFTUs members and families are trying to sustain some kind of existence under the present conditions, not least unemployment levels of over 60% and worsening.
Conference pledges its support to all those trade unionists in Palestine and Israel committed to a peaceful solution to the conflict and instructs the NEC to engage in a dialogue with all trade union organisations in Palestine and Israel who are committed to a peaceful solution and to develop solidarity with them which will help achieve these aims and in particular alleviate the massive suffering and oppression of Palestinian trade unionists.
Conference also instructs the NEC to pursue this policy with the TUC, Scottish TUC, Wales TUC and the British Government with the utmost vigour and determination.
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EM3
Conference condemns the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the Israeli Army, and applauds the stance of the refuseniks in refusing to serve in the Palestinian areas.
Conference further condemns the massacre in Jenin and other atrocities.
Conference calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli Army from the West Bank and Gaza Strip including the sieges of Arafat’s H. Q. in Ramala and the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.
Conference calls on the PCS NEC to campaign through the TUC for:
A boycott of all Israeli goods
Economic sanctions against Israel
Sharon to be subject to a war crimes investigation
A ban on all arms sales to Israel
That this conference is deeply concerned about the breakdown in the Middle East peace process and calls for all positive steps to be taken to reach a lasting solution which will provide an independent and sovereign state of Palestine under the provisions of the UN resolutions. Conference pays tribute to the brave work being undertaken by the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unionists (PGFTU) in its attempts to secure a peaceful solution. Conference therefore condemns the bombing of their HQ in Nabulus on 17 February by Israeli defence force helicopters at a time when the PGFTUs members and families are trying to sustain some kind of existence under the present conditions, not least unemployment levels of over 60% and worsening.
Conference pledges its support to all those trade unionists in Palestine and Israel committed to a peaceful solution to the conflict and instructs the NEC to engage in a dialogue with all trade union organisations in Palestine and Israel who are committed to a peaceful solution and to develop solidarity with them which will help achieve these aims and in particular alleviate the massive suffering and oppression of Palestinian trade unionists.
Conference also instructs the NEC to pursue this policy with the TUC, Scottish TUC, Wales TUC and the British Government with the utmost vigour and determination.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EM3
Conference condemns the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by the Israeli Army, and applauds the stance of the refuseniks in refusing to serve in the Palestinian areas.
Conference further condemns the massacre in Jenin and other atrocities.
Conference calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli Army from the West Bank and Gaza Strip including the sieges of Arafat’s H. Q. in Ramala and the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.
Conference calls on the PCS NEC to campaign through the TUC for:
A boycott of all Israeli goods
Economic sanctions against Israel
Sharon to be subject to a war crimes investigation
A ban on all arms sales to Israel
trade union dinosaur
Homepage:
http://www.pcs.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Excellent
21.05.2002 11:50
I also hope that the Union will support anyone who takes such action (fat chance, but hey: one step at a time).
Direct Action Gets the Goods!
red'n'black
Homepage:
http://www.iww.org.uk
Excellent
21.05.2002 11:51
I also hope that the Union will support anyone who takes such action (fat chance, but hey: one step at a time).
Direct Action Gets the Goods!
red'n'black
Homepage:
http://www.iww.org.uk
Practical impact?
21.05.2002 12:03
I have been involved in a small way in both the anarcho direct action scene and the union scene and I think that both of them have their own good and bad points.
But what is the point in spending time trying to get your union exec to persuade the TUC to do a campaign.
Surely, if you are going to put effort in to anything it should be getting on with promoting understanding of the issues, boycotts, protests etc. From my experience, passing motions through unions is purely symbolic and unlikely to be useful to anyone - least of all the Palestinians.
christopher spence
well but
21.05.2002 16:32
cheese biscuit