TUC: Congress solidarity with Palestine sends Israel lobby spinning‏

TUC Congress yesterday overwhelmingly endorsed a motion on Palestine which instructed the General Council to work closely with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to actively encourage affiliates, employers and pension funds to disinvest from, and boycott the goods of, companies who profit from illegal settlements, the Occupation and the construction of the Wall.

Congress also agreed to join unions around the world for maximum coordination internationally for active solidarity to end the siege of Gaza and for a free Palestine.
http://www.congressvoices.org/2010/69-palestine/

Mike Kirby, UNISON Scottish convener, speaking in support of composite 18 said: "we cannot stand idly by while the people of Nablus, Jerusalem and Gaza suffer on a daily basis” and Congress condemned the Israeli blockades of the Palestinian territories, particularly the Gaza strip ‘where there is a severe and ongoing deterioration in the living conditions of those living there’.

The TUC decision was met with predictable hostility and spin by the Israel lobby. The Jewish Chronicle quoted a joint statement from the Jewish Leadership Council and Board of Deputies:

“The TUC rejection of a general boycott of Israeli goods, despite the efforts of the PSC, is good news, and a serious setback for the pro-boycott movement.

We recognise the efforts of serious trade union, TUC and international TUC leaders in opposing this divisive measure. However, the tone of the TUC's resolution is at odds with the realities of Israeli-Palestinian Trade Union cooperation and the renewed peace process.

We are also concerned that the resolution again mandates the TUC to work closely with the PSC, an organisation that does not share the TUC's support for a two-state solution. Communal leaders will be meeting the TUC leadership to raise these concerns.”
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/38114/tuc-vote-extend-israel-boycott?

For more information on Israel lobby and UK unions read:
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2010/05/deranged-anti-union-misrepresentations.html