Union Leaders Join Progressive Lawmakers in Demanding Gaza Cease-Fire Now

https://www.commondreams.org/news/labor-unions-gaza

Union Leaders Join Progressive Lawmakers in Demanding Gaza Cease-Fire Now

“The only path forward to peace and social justice is a cease-fire," declared UAW president Shawn Fain.

BRETT WILKINS
Dec 14, 2023

Leaders of major U.S labor unions joined progressive members of Congress at a Thursday rally and press conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., where they implored President Joe Biden to support a cease-fire in Gaza without delay.

Leaders of unions including the United Auto Workers (UAW); the Postal Workers Union; and the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America held a press conference outside the Capitol, where they were joined by Democratic U.S. lawmakers including Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

"The world has seen enough slaughter and devastation. Peace is the only path forward," UAW president Shawn Fain—who recently led the fight for historic new contracts for Big Three autoworkers—told attendees. "While we call for a cease-fire, we also condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, [and] anti-Arab racism, all of which are growing in our nation at this moment and must be stopped."

"As union members, we know we must fight for all workers and suffering people around the world. We must fight for humanity," he added. "That means we must restore people's basic rights and allow water, food, fuel, humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. We must also call for the release of all hostages."

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