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submitted 10 months ago by breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world

For decades, the most prominent American unions were largely supportive of Israel. Today, though, amid a resurgence of the American labor movement, some activists are urging their unions to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and succeeding — a change that reflects a broader generational shift.

But many unions are divided over what stance to take or whether to take any stance at all.

Some American labor leaders have remained supportive of Israel’s war against Hamas, and moved swiftly to condemn Hamas’s attacks on Oct. 7. They are dismayed by the views of a younger generation of organizers who in some cases oppose Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.

“There has been a shift in society, and that’s reflected in the labor movement as it is every place else,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Jewish Labor Committee and head of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

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[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 33 points 10 months ago

This just in: murdering civilians is unpopular and makes people question their friendship with a bully.

[-] Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago

Then when someone goes, "Please don't kill civilians" they shout "STOP BEING A ANTISEMITE."

[-] Humanius@lemmy.world 24 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Regardless of your stance on what is going on in Gaza, I don't think unions should be picking a side either way.

The point of a union is to represent the worker toward their employer. This is most effective if all workers stand together.
Taking a stance on a matter that is so politically controversial as the situation in Gaza/Israel, only serves to divide workers, reducing the effectiveness of unions to achieve their core purpose.

If individuals (or groups of individuals) want to support or denounce either Israel or Palestine that should be their choice, but I don't think a union should get involved in that.

[-] ComradePorkRoll@lemmy.world 30 points 10 months ago

Hard disagree. Unions have taken political stances on numerous occasions throughout history. It's one of the most effective tools the working class has to fight imperialism. Imperialism is something the working class should fight against.

[-] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 months ago

I agree with this. World conflict, culture war bullshit and other wedge issues are used too often by oligarch funded media to make the working class fight with each other and forget who are really pulling the strings.

Even if I feel strongly about a particular issue, the union should be focused on getting fair working conditions for its members, and separate advocacy organizations should be focused on spreading awareness on the topic(s) they are concerned with.

[-] spider@lemmy.nz 4 points 10 months ago

World conflict, culture war bullshit and other wedge issues are used too often by oligarch funded media to make the working class fight with each other and forget who are really pulling the strings.

Divide and conquer is one of the oldest games in the book.

[-] White111@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

Some issues are obviously more urgent than others and a total massacre is one. No members are gonna disagree with that.

[-] queermunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 months ago

So why have unions supported Israel for decades?

[-] Humanius@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I never said I approved of that either. I'm just voicing my opinion on what the role of unions is / should be.

[-] queermunist@lemmy.ml 0 points 10 months ago

Unions made a huge mistake when they welded themselves to the military-industrial complex. Glad to hear the trend might reverse.

this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2024
189 points (94.8% liked)

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