VIDEO Ceasefire Now: Workplace Organizing for Palestine

Workers stand outdoors, many wearing keffiyehs, holding a large red hand-painted banner that says "Health care workers against genocide in Gaza." Signs visible in crowd behind them say "Hospitals are not targets," "Free Palestine," and something ending in "slaughter."



On November 15, Labor Notes hosted a Zoom call to hear reports from workers who are organizing to stop an escalating genocide in Palestine. Many are also fighting against the repression of workers who are speaking up for a ceasefire and against Israel’s occupation. We heard speakers from unions in education, health care, construction, and others who have organized their co-workers into action.

Speakers:

  • Marcia Howard, Minneapolis Federation of Teachers acting president
  • Dave Pinkham, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 520
  • Dennis Kosuth, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) / National Nurses United (NNU)
  • Hollie Bolton, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Trade Unionists for Palestine
  • Giacomo Marchetti, USB-WTUF (Genoa, Italy)
  • Stefan Yong, United Auto Workers, Local 2865
  • Tiana Reid, Freelance Solidarity Project (FSP), The National Writers Union (NWU), York University Faculty Association
  • Sameerah, Death Doula and Elder/Memory Care Worker
  • Nas Mohit, US Labor Against Racism and War -- Solidarity with Palestine
  • Facilitators: Lisa Xu, Keith Brower Brown, and Luis Feliz Leon, Labor Notes

Notes from the webinar (big thanks to Labor Notes supporter SAA!)


Resources shared on the webinar, plus some additional links:

An Urgent Call from Palestinian Trade Unions: End all Complicity, Stop Arming Israel

Labor Notes handout on how to have a workplace organizing conversation on taking action for Palestine

From our panelists:

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Organizing ceasefire resolutions:

Blocking flow of arms and funding to Israel:

Other organizing initiatives:

U.S. Labor Against Racism and War (USLAWR) - organize with other workers across the labor movement to take action on Palestine:

Lastly, registration is open for the Labor Notes conference on April 19-21, 2024, for which we plan to develop programming on the labor movement and Palestine. Register here.

For more information, contact Labor Notes organizers:
Lisa (lisa[at]labornotes[dot]org), Keith (keith[at]labornotes[dot]org), and Luis (luis[at]labornotes[dot]org)

Lisa Xu is an organizer with Labor Notes.