Received from: AUE
Congress notes:
i. the 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. the global Palestinian-led movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions initiated by Palestinian civil society including trade unions
iv. ongoing government efforts to discourage and censure Palestine solidarity, including within art and culture.
Congress believes:
a. trade unions need to answer the call of Palestinian workers for solidarity
b. BDS is an effective strategy to pressure Israel to comply with international law and 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:
1. support the Palestinian-led BDS movement, and promote the workplace days of action
2. campaign for an end to all arms sales and military cooperation with Israel and divestment from companies complicit in Israel’s crimes against Palestinians
3. call on the government to impose wide-ranging sanctions on Israel until it complies with international law, and to commit to freedom of speech and end attempts to censor artists and art organisations expressing solidarity with Palestine
4. support trade unionists, including artists and culture workers, who refuse to handle goods and services linked to violations of international law.
Artists’ Union England
AMENDMENT
Add:
5. to campaign for a permanent ceasefire and just peace plan that respects international law and successive UN resolutions, providing for a two-state solution;
6. to campaign for legislation banning trade with the illegal settlements and suspension of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, until international law is respected.
UNISON
AMENDMENT
In second paragraph at start of bullet point b., before “BDS” insert “worker-led”.
In third paragraph in bullet point 1., between “support” and “BDS” delete “the Palestinian-led” and insert “worker-led”, and between “BDS” and “and promote” delete “movement” and insert “campaigns in support of Palestine”.
In third paragraph in bullet point 2., in the first line between “sales” and “and military” insert “to” and after “Palestinians” insert “in cooperation with the trade union members in those companies”.
Unite
AMENDMENT
In Congress notes add a new line:
Israeli settlers’ violence and attacks, supported by the IDF, on Palestinian communities, has caused the deaths of several children and the closure of many schools, leaving students and teaching staff terrorised.
In point 4.:
Insert after culture workers: “and education workers”
National Education Union