The Southern Workers Assembly is re-publishing and sharing the following resolutions calling for a ceasefire in the Israeli/U.S. war on Palestine, and encouraging other workers and unions to share these statements widely. We encourage other central labor councils, unions, and worker organizations to follow the courageous and principled stand the Charlotte-Metrolina and Triangle Central Labor Councils have taken and join the growing calls for a ceasefire now!
Charlotte-Metrolina Central Labor Council: Resolution in Support of a Ceasefire in the Israel and Palestine Conflict
Whereas, the labor movement and the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council (CMLC) condemns the abhorrent attacks by Hamas in Israel of October 7th which resulted in over a thousand dead and another 240 hostages taken,
Whereas, Israel’s attempt to dislodge Hamas from power in the Gaza strip has resulted in over 10,000 innocent civilian deaths, almost half of whom are children, and the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from northern Gaza,
Whereas, humanitarian needs have become dire due to limiting or completely closing off access to food and water to a population of over 2 million people, including necessary resources for medical aid,
Whereas we stand in support of and for protecting workers who may decide to take action to support efforts to end the war against the Palestinian people, including boycotts that would weaken the Israeli war effort, NV
Whereas, Central Labor Councils, international unions and local affiliate unions across the country have taken similar stances calling for a ceasefire, and we echo their sentiments.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council calls for an immediate ceasefire, return of all hostages, end the bombing of the Palestinian people, and to provide necessary humanitarian aid to the injured and/or displaced;
And the CMLC asks our elected leaders including Congressional Representatives and President Biden to support a ceasefire;
And we call on other Central Labor Councils of North Carolina, the NC AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO to support an immediate ceasefire.
Triangle Central Labor Council: Resolution for Ceasefire, Peace, and International Law
Adopted 11/27/2023
WHEREAS, the labor movement and the Triangle Labor Council (TLC) condemns the intentional targeting of civilians everywhere, notably in occupied Palestine, asper international humanitarian law,
WHEREAS, Israel’s bombing and invasion of the Gaza strip has resulted in over 14,000 innocent civilian deaths, more than 10,000 of whom are women & children, and the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from northern Gaza,
WHEREAS, humanitarian needs have become dire due to limiting or completely closing off access to food and water to a population of over 2 million people, including necessary resources for medical aid,
WHEREAS, Palestinian trade unions issued an urgent call on October 16, 2023 calling on labor unions to take action to end all forms of complicity with war crimes, most urgently halting the arms trade with Israel,
WHEREAS, Central Labor Councils, including the Charlotte-Metrolina Labor Council, international unions and local affiliate unions across the country have taken similar stances calling for a ceasefire, and we echo their sentiments,
WHEREAS, we deeply mourn the devastating loss of life in occupied Palestine and Israel. We recognize that 75 years of Israeli occupation and its apartheid laws are the root cause of the violence unfolding in Palestine. We mourn the taking of civilian life without reservation. Preventing further loss of life – including of the hostages on both sides – is an urgent priority; and
WHEREAS, the Israeli state violence and occupation is costing the lives of Palestinians and Israelis. The UN, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and B’Tselem, the largest human rights organization in Israel, have all declared Israel as an Apartheid State and documented its blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Protecting people on both sides from harm requires
addressing its root cause; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country have joined the groundswell of global solidarity demanding an immediate end to the brutal military aggression. Notably, thousands of Jewish Americans, who resolutely understand defending Palestinians’ human rights does not imply anti-semitism, have taken actions to end the violence, including APWU national president Mark Dimondstein.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Triangle Labor Council calls for a permanent ceasefire, return of all hostages, end the bombing of the Palestinian people, provide necessary humanitarian aid to the injured and/or displaced and recognizes apartheid as an international crime against
humanity;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the TLC condemns all forms of discrimination amid the alarming rise of anti-Arab, anti-Semitic, and Anti-Muslim sentiment in the US;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the TLC calls on our elected leaders including City Councilors, Congressional Representatives and President Biden to support an immediate ceasefire and end arms deal that will only lead to further escalation;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the TLC co-signs the Resolution for Ceasefire, Peace, and International Law before the Raleigh City Council,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the TLC calls on other Central Labor Councils, the NC AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO to support an immediate ceasefire.