Sunday, May 29 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Maritime Labour Centre
1880 Triumph Street (Victoria & Triumph)
Vancouver, BC
A trade union speaking tour with representatives from the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE) and South African Union of Municipal Workers (SAMWU)
BACKGROUND INFO:
- Why are trade unionists globally comparing the situation in Palestine with that of South African apartheid?
- What is the situation of Palestinian workers today?
- Why has there been a call by Palestinian trade unions for a campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) modeled on the solidarity movement against South African apartheid?
- What is the role of trade union activists in what is happening in Palestine and South Africa today?
There is a great urgency in building our solidarity with Palestinian workers. It is important to note that Palestinian trade unions continue to operate in and confront a daily reality of military occupation, apartheid walls and neoliberal austerity.
In Gaza, 98% of industrial operations remain idle as a result of Israel’s three-year blockade, which includes severe restrictions on electricity, heating oil, natural gas and construction materials.
In the occupied West Bank, 25% of the population continues to face food insecurity as well as a complex network of 400-500 military checkpoints, roadblocks, fences, and other obstacles that separate Palestinian workers from their workplaces.
Vancouver event sponsors include:
- Vancouver & District Labour Council
- CUPE Local 15
- CUPE Metro
- Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW-STTP)
- Teaching Support Staff Union, Social Justice Committee, Simon Fraser University
- Independent Jewish Voices BC
- BIAC Vancouver
- Canada-Palestine Support Network
- Canada Palestine Association Vancouver
- Stopwar.ca
Sponsors & endorsers of the cross-Canada tour & local events include:
- Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW-STTP)
- Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – Ontario Division
- CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee
- CUPE Toronto District Council
- CUPE Local 2491
- Fédération nationale des enseignants et enseignantes du Québec (FNEEQ)
- London & District Labour Council
- Metropolitan Montréal Central Council, Confédération des syndicats nationaux
- Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 568
- Faculty for Palestine
- Independent Jewish Voices
- London Solidarity Coalition for Palestine
- Not in Our Name: Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
- Tadamon! Montreal
