{"article":{"id":233164,"heading":"Labor for Palestine: Open Letter to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: Boycott Apartheid Is","author":"Labor for Palestine","created":"2009-12-16 03:19:43","modified":"2009-12-18 18:54:05","last_modified":"Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:54:05","article":"

To endorse this statement<\/span>, click here.
\r\n<\/span>To donate to Labor for Palestine<\/span>, click here. <\/span><\/strong>
\r\n


Labor for Palestine<\/i>
\r\nOpen Letter from U.S. Trade Unionists to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:
Boycott Apartheid Israel
December 4, 2009<\/b>

\"Sanctions\r\nalone cannot eradicate apartheid; that task is ultimately left to the\r\npeople of South Africa themselves. But economic pressure and political\r\nisolation of the South African government can hasten the day when\r\njustice and freedom reign in that troubled land.\"<\/i> --Richard L. Trumka, June 23, 1987
\r\n\r\n
\"We call on other workers and unions to . . . do all that is\r\nnecessary to ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel\r\nuntil Palestine is free.\"<\/i> --Congress of South African Trade Unions, February 3, 2009
\r\n
\"We urge all international trade unions to heed the call of\r\nPalestinian civil society, including the trade union movement, by\r\nendorsing BDS. We further urge all trade unions and trade union\r\nfederations to sever their links with the Histadrut, a Zionist\r\norganization that has always played a key role in perpetuating Israel's\r\noccupation, colonization and system of racial discrimination, and that\r\nhas justified and applauded Israel's war crimes in Gaza in December\r\n2008 and January 2<\/i>009.\" --Palestinian Trade Union Movement Unanimously Confirms Support for BDS, November 25, 2009
\r\n
-------------------

Dear Brother Trumka:

As labor and\r\nanti-apartheid activists, we strongly disagree with your October 27\r\nspeech denouncing the movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions\r\n(BDS) against Israel.
\r\n
The BDS campaign was initiated in 2005 by Palestinian civil society\r\n-- including its entire labor movement. Inspired by the international\r\nboycott that helped topple apartheid South Africa, it demands\r\nPalestinian self-determination, including an end to Israeli military\r\noccupation, the right of refugees to return to the land from which they\r\nhave been ethnically cleansed since the Nakba of 1947-1948, and equal\r\nrights for all throughout historic Palestine.
\r\n
Support for BDS has grown rapidly, especially since December 27,\r\n2008, when Israel broke a truce with the democratically-elected\r\nPalestinian government and attacked Gaza. In the resulting massacre,\r\nIsrael killed more than 1400 Palestinians, hundreds of them children;\r\nmaimed and wounded thousands more; and utterly devastated Gaza's\r\ninfrastructure, including the Gaza headquarters of the Palestine\r\nGeneral Federation of Trade Unions.
\r\n
In the best tradition of labor solidarity, South African and\r\nAustralian dockworkers responded by refusing to handle Israeli cargo,\r\nand the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) \"call[ed] on\r\nother workers and unions to follow suit and to do all that is necessary\r\nto ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel until\r\nPalestine is free.\"
\r\n\r\n
Their action echoes the West Coast dock-workers who refused to\r\nhandle cargo for Nazi Germany (1934) or fascist Italy (1935); those in\r\nDenmark and Sweden (1963), the San Francisco Bay Area (1984) and\r\nLiverpool (1988), who refused shipping for apartheid South Africa;\r\nthose in Oakland who refused to load bombs for the Pinochet\r\ndictatorship in Chile (1978); and those at all twenty-nine West Coast\r\nports who held a May Day strike against the wars in Iraq and\r\nAfghanistan (2008).
\r\n
Since Gaza, the 2005 BDS call also been endorsed or reaffirmed by\r\nnumerous other labor bodies around the world, including the trades\r\nunion congresses of Ireland, Scotland and the UK; UNISON (UK);\r\nTransport and General Workers' Union (UK); L'Union syndicale Solidaires\r\nIndustrie (France); Canadian Union of Postal Workers; Canadian Union of\r\nPublic Employees-Ontario; six Norwegian trade unions; and Intersindical\r\nAlternativa de Catallunya.
\r\n
It is no accident that South African workers play a leading role in\r\nthe BDS movement. They remember that Israel was apartheid South\r\nAfrica's closest ally. They agree with Archbishop Desmond Tutu's\r\nobservation that Israel's treatment of Palestinians is \"worse than\r\napartheid.\" They recognize that the Gaza massacre mirrors the infamous\r\nSharpeville massacre of 1960, which gave birth to an international\r\nboycott against South African apartheid.
\r\n
This rising tide of labor support for BDS has only been further\r\nvindicated by Israel's rejection of the war crimes indictments issued\r\nagainst it by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN's\r\nGoldstone Report and numerous other bodies -- many of them Israeli.
\r\n
The BDS campaign is particularly relevant to workers in the United States.

In\r\nthe past ten years alone, U.S. military aid to Israel was $17 billion;\r\nover the next decade, it will be another $30 billion. As in Iraq,\r\nAfghanistan and Pakistan, U.S. aircraft, white phosphorous and bullets\r\nkill and maim on behalf of the occupiers, while both Democratic and\r\nRepublican politicians condone the slaughter. Amidst deepening economic\r\ncrisis, workers in this country pay a staggering human and financial\r\nprice for U.S.-Israeli war and occupation throughout the region.
\r\n
Despite all of this, however, many U.S. labor officials -- often\r\nwithout the knowledge or con-sent of union members -- have ignored\r\nPalestinian appeals for justice. Instead, they continue to collaborate\r\nwith the Histadrut, the Zionist labor federation that not only\r\nsupported Israel's war on Gaza, but which has spearheaded -- and\r\nwhitewashed -- racism, apartheid, dispossession and ethnic cleansing\r\nagainst the Palestinians since the 1920s.
\r\n
They have invested billions of our union pension funds and\r\nretirement plans in State of Israel Bonds. They have actively\r\nencouraged the U.S. to provide the money and weapons that oppress\r\nPalestinian workers, and to ensure Israel's role as watchdog for U.S.\r\ndomination over the oil-rich Middle East.
\r\n
The Jewish Labor Committee has exploited its carefully groomed\r\n\"progressive\" image by hurling hurls false accusations of\r\n\"anti-Semitism\" against those who challenge racism in the U.S. labor\r\nmovement, who support affirmative action for workers of color, who\r\ncriticize notorious \"AFL-CIA\" support U.S. war and empire, and -- above\r\nall -- who oppose apartheid Israel.
\r\n\r\n
Thus, it was the JLC that in July 2007 mobilized top AFL-CIO and\r\nChange to Win officials to condemn British union support for BDS. It is\r\nthe JLC that seeks to deflect outrage over the Gaza massacres by\r\nlaunching Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine, whose stated\r\npurpose is to sabotage the BDS campaign, while demanding boycotts\r\nagainst Iran, which -- unlike Israel -- receives no U.S. aid and has no\r\n\"weapons of mass destruction.\"
\r\n
In the 1980s, as president of the United Mine Workers, you rightly\r\nargued that, \"economic pressure and political isolation of the South\r\nAfrican government can hasten the day when justice and freedom reign in\r\nthat troubled land.\" Two decades later, the cause of \"justice and\r\nfreedom\" for Palestinians requires no less of you as president of the\r\nAFL-CIO. As trade unionists, we must immediately and completely:
\r\n
1. Divest from State of Israel Bonds.

2. Support workers' refusal to handle Israeli cargo.

3. Break ties with the racist Histadrut.

4. Oppose U.S. military and economic aid for Israel.
\r\n

Initial Signers <\/b><\/u>
(List in formation -- *For identification only)

Monadel Herzallah, President, Arab American Union Members Council, California

Larry Adams, Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War; Former President, NPMHU L. 300*
\r\n
Michael Letwin, Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War;\r\nFormer President, UAW L. 2325\/ALAA*; Al-Awda NY; International Jewish\r\nAnti-Zionist Network\/Labor
\r\n
Brenda Stokely, Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War;\r\nFormer President, AFSCME DC 1707*; Co-Chair, Million Worker March\r\nMovement

Sam Weinstein, Former President, UWUA L. 132*; International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network\/Labor
\r\n\r\n
Stanley Heller, AFT L. 1547*, Delegate, CT Central Labor Council*

Marty Goodman, Former Executive Board Member, TWU L.100*

Fred Mason, Maryland AFL-CIO*
\r\n
\r\nClayola Brown, A. Philip Randolph Institute, AFL-CIO*
\r\n
\r\nFrank Rosen, General Vice President (retired), UE*

Steve Zeltzer, Producer, Labor Video Project

Anthony Arnove, National Writers Union\/UAW L.1981*
\r\n
Mike Gimbel, Chair, Labor-Community Unity Committee, AFSCME DC 37 L. 375*; Delegate, NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO*

Dave Welsh, Delegate, San Francisco Labor Council*

Lee Sustar, Chicago Labor Against the War
\r\n
Timothy Kaminski, UAW L. 110* (ret.)
\r\n\r\n
Janice Rothstein, AFSCME L. 3299*

Andy Griggs, UTLA*; LA Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee, Cafe Intifada

Emma Rosenthal, UTLA*; LA Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee, Cafe Intifada

Pete Nowicki, AFSCME L. 145*
\r\n
Jim Crampton, 1199SEIU\/UHWE*

Allan Fisher, AFT L. 2121, SF Community College*

\r\nAlan Benjamin, OPEIU L. 3*

Sharon Black, AFT L. 2*; Bailout the People Movement

Bill Balderson, Oakland Education Assn.*
\r\n
Sarah Ringler, AFT L. 1936, PVFT*

Frank Pinto, UPTE-CWA L. 9119*

Steve Desavouret, TCU\/IAM 6608<\/span>*
\r\n\r\n
Louis LaFortune, AFT L. 1936, PVFT*

Azalia Torres, Former Executive Bd. Member, UAW Local 2325\/ALAA*

Patrick Langhenry, UAW Local 2325\/ALAA*

Lucy Herschel, Delegate 1199SEIU\/UHWE*

Carol Seligman, South San Francisco California Teachers Association*
\r\n

International Endorsers<\/b><\/u>

Rubina Jamil, Working Women Organization; All Pakistan Trade Union Federation*

Tony Leon, Secretary General, Venezuelan Union of Oil Industry Workers*
\r\n

To endorse this statement<\/span><\/span>, click here.
\r\n<\/span><\/strong>To donate to Labor for Palestine<\/span>, click here. <\/span><\/strong>\r\n\r\n


-------------------

Boycott Appeals from Palestinian Labor <\/b><\/u>

Palestinian trade unions unanimously support boycott movement
http:\/\/electronicintifada.net\/v2\/article10915.shtml
\r\n
A Statement by the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the Palestinian Trade Union Blocs and Frameworks
http:\/\/bdsmovement.net\/?q=node\/596<\/p>\n","contact":"laborforpalestine.us@gmail.com","link":"http:\/\/laborforpalestine.wordpress.com\/","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"In the 1980s, as president of the United Mine Workers, you rightly argued that, "economic pressure and political isolation of the South African government can hasten the day when justice and freedom reign in that troubled land." Two decades later, the cause of "justice and freedom" for Palestinians requires no less of you as president of the AFL-CIO.","numcomment":15,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2009\/12\/233164.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":233167,"heading":"hmmmm","article":"the AFL-CIO has been a asset of the CIA since they helped overthrow Allende in Chile.\r\nBeware of the AFL-CIO","author":"AFL-CIA","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-16 08:49:14","modified":"2009-12-16 08:49:14","fileurl":""},{"id":233178,"heading":"oh look","article":"http:\/\/www.unionbook.org\/pg\/groups\/13644\/tulip-trade-unions-linking-israel-and-palestine\/","author":"oh look","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-17 00:52:12","modified":"2009-12-17 00:52:12","fileurl":""},{"id":233181,"heading":"that's curious","article":"That's what they have now. A colonial state and who they have at their frontiers like the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon.\r\nTwo states\r\nIsrael and what ever they think they can acquire by force.\r\nIt would be so much easier to declare universal human rights and due process for everyone.","author":"Two State Solution?","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-17 02:11:18","modified":"2009-12-17 02:11:18","fileurl":""},{"id":233182,"heading":""universal human rights"","article":"What in the fuck are "universal human rights"?\r\n\r\nIs it a religion?\r\n\r\nAre they binding on cancers or heart attacks or earthquakes or volcanoes or comets?\r\n\r\nWhat is the base I.Q. of whoever invents and perpetuates such astounding idiocy?","author":"debate coaches for Palestine!","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-17 02:52:37","modified":"2009-12-17 02:52:37","fileurl":""},{"id":233194,"heading":"wow!","article":""What in the fuck are "universal human rights"? "\r\nof course you have no idea about universal human rights.\r\nYou're a soulless, homicidal, Israeli spook.\r\nYou will never understand your own psychopathy.","author":"soulless creatures","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-17 12:04:39","modified":"2009-12-17 12:04:39","fileurl":""},{"id":233201,"heading":"Of course "Human Rights"","article":"Of course to Palestinians and their Western apologists only non-Jews have "Human Rights". Jews only have obligations but no rights.","author":"Of course "Human Rights"","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-17 22:46:47","modified":"2009-12-17 22:46:47","fileurl":""},{"id":233202,"heading":"do you have*any* idea...","article":"you're the only nimrod squealing anything about ethnicity in that last regurgitation of the standard, " it's all about ( here comes the usual welding of disparate interests for your benefit ) 'Jews!' and not about humanity. Another alien concept to you, I'm sure.\r\nZionism has been the worst thing to ever happen to the Jews, starting with their collaboration with the nazis.","author":"how twisted you are, Israel","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-17 23:08:26","modified":"2009-12-17 23:08:26","fileurl":""},{"id":233222,"heading":"transparency!","article":"and if one was to actually believe that Yada feels this way, equating Israel to an earthquake or volcano, does this not just reminds us of what a soulless entity this shitty little state is.?.\r\nA general menace to the rest of the world which is just re-iterating what I've always said.\r\nA malignancy, a cancer, a soulless sick remainder... of the 3rd Reich.","author":"clear now","parent_id":233164,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2009-12-18 18:54:37","modified":"2009-12-18 18:54:37","fileurl":""}]}