Composing motion 77 and amendments
Congress notes the:
i. catastrophic destruction of Gaza, including infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and universities, following Israel’s genocidal assault since 2023, killing over 70,000 Palestinians, displacing millions, and increase in illegal settlements, military occupation and apartheid
ii. findings by UN bodies and human rights organisations documenting grave violations of international law including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity
iii. Israeli settlers’ violence and attacks, supported by the IDF, on Palestinian communities, has caused the deaths of several children and closure of many schools, leaving students and teaching staff terrorised
iv. global Palestinian-led movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions initiated by Palestinian civil society including trade unions
v. ongoing government efforts to discourage and censure Palestine solidarity, including within art and culture.
Congress believes:
a. the need to answer the call of Palestinian workers for solidarity
b. BDS is an effective strategy to pressure Israel to end its ongoing genocide, system of apartheid, occupation and denial of the right of return for refugees
c. the trade union movement has a proud history of BDS campaigns against oppression, including against apartheid South Africa.
Congress resolves to:
1. campaign for a permanent ceasefire and just peace plan that respects international law and successive UN resolutions, providing for a two-state solution
2. campaign for legislation banning trade with the illegal settlements and suspension of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, until international law is respected
3. support the Palestinian led BDS movement; trade union-led campaigns in support of Palestine; the workplace days of action; divestment from companies complicit in Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, in cooperation with union members in those companies
4. end all military cooperation and arms trade with Israel to comply with international law
5. call on the government to impose wide-ranging sanctions on Israel until it complies with international law, and commit to freedom of speech and end attempts to censor artists and art organisations expressing solidarity with Palestine
6. support trade unionists, including artists, culture workers and education workers who refuse to handle goods and services linked to violations of international law.
Mover: Artists’ Union England
Seconder: UNISON
Supported by: Unite, National Education Union