Sheffield Palestine Coalition against Israeli Apartheid

Dear Union Branches and all trade unionists

WILL YOU JOIN US?

Sheffield TUC is a founding member of the new Sheffield Palestine Coalition against Israeli Apartheid along with Sheffield Labour Friends of Palestine, Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Kairos. We want trade union branches – and individual trade union members – to get involved and “sign the pledge” that you stand in solidarity with Palestinians and will help to end Israeli apartheid with us. Please click on this link to read about the pledge and sign up: https://pledge.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/

See the latest newsletter from the Coalition here News from Palestine and Sheffield, plus Coalition Events June 2023

Please find attached a report of the talk about the situation in Israel given by Annie O’Gara and Paul Wimpeney to the Sheffield TUC Delegate meeting on 23^rd May 2023. Extract from the minutes of Sheffield TUC Delegate meeting Tuesday 23rd May 2023

75 years ago, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were driven from their villages (the NAKBA) into exile by Israeli extremists, never to return. Now the new far right Israeli Government is intensifying its oppression of Palestinians in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. A number of highly respected human rights organisations have produced reports defining Israel’s system of separation, oppression and control as apartheid. They include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B’Tselem, a Jewish human rights organisation. Apartheid is a crime against humanity and just as in the case of apartheid South Africa nearly 30 years ago, we have a duty to oppose it.

Unfortunately our political leaders are looking the other way. We want to change that from the grass roots up. Trade unions play a key part in that process. Almost every trade union has national policy to support the Palestinian cause and past TUC Congresses have agreed excellent statements and motions on this issue. Now it’s time to ask local trade branches and their branches to have their voice heard! See these trade union links below:

https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/justice-palestine-briefing

(JN9653)(3) A5 Shufat Leaflet (unitetheunion.org)

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2021/01/palestine-pension-invested-occupation/

https://www.gmb.org.uk/statement-western-sahara-and-palestine

https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/palestine-urgent-motion

Trade Unions affiliated to Palestine Solidarity Campaign

ASLEF – Train Drivers Union

BFAWU – Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union

CWU – Communication Workers Union

FBU – Fire Brigades Union

GMB – Britain’s General union

The Musicians’ Union