THE FIGHT FOR PALESTINE ON HOME SOIL
WITH MILITANT UNIONS MIA, NEW ORGS ARE NEEDED NOW
The most glaring and galling feature of our present-day trade unions is the complete lack of militancy. Australian unions have almost universally adopted a “tame cat” stance, both in relation to pressing industrial matters and the genocide of the oppressed Palestinians.
The utter failure of any militancy to emerge from within union ranks at a time when a livestreamed genocide is occurring is quite astonishing, to say the least.
Moreover, as this genocide unfolds within the historical lands of Palestine, not one Australian union has launched protracted industrial action to hinder or halt the exportation of war materiel from Australian cities into the hands of those committing massacre and atrocity.
Any such action would be likely to garner popular support around the nation.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions, which is the umbrella organisation that brings 38 Australian trade unions together, steadfastly refuses to initiate serious industrial action that has the potential to minimise war profiteering occurring within Australia.
The ACTU has largely been silent on the most pressing issue of the day. Few words have been uttered or spoken in condemnation of genocide. It also seems that radio silence is the only practical approach the ACTU can come up with in relation to the local export industry that ships war materiel abroad.
The ACTU claims to represent “1.8 million Australian workers and their families,” but has it polled its membership on the critical issue of genocide and Palestinian self-determination? Probably not.
The union movement has historically produced some brilliant and talented leaders. Their courage and intellect ensured that they inspired many. None of these popular leaders sought to draw comfort from an appointment to a mining company board of directors or a superannuation fund management team.
The union movement has historically produced excellent moral leadership. But not anymore. Our so-called “community leaders” have seemingly pulled their heads in to such a degree that they can barely see what is in front of them.
That is, an undeniable genocide means the annihilation of humans – the Palestinians. Which has continued without abatement for the past two years. And which the ACTU and trade unions have failed to condemn and materially oppose.
Many people rightly see this lack of appropriate action as a betrayal of the union movement’s core beliefs.
It is now quite clear that the working class needs new organisations to serve its interests. Such organisations will have to be built from the bottom up by volunteers who simply want to see a new type of pro-working class organisation come into existence.
To be effective, the actions of this type of organisation must not be constrained within the digital universe but must appear with vigour and energy in the physical world. As needs are identified and situations change the organisation must be able to adapt and evolve.
Only civil disobedience and direct action can exert the necessary pressure to end Australian involvement in the genocide of the Palestinians. Both picket and strike are valid forms of direct action. Our new organisations must remain aware of this.
by Keith Salter
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) trade union delegate 1998-2002
Punk Human 
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