TRADE unionists called for justice and peace today, saying that “silence is not an option” in the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump.

Delegates at the CWU’s Bournemouth biannual conference condemned Israel and the US for “unilaterally launching the war in Iran.”

Attacking the “horrifying violations of international law” and atrocities such as the killing of 120 schoolchildren at the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Iran, the motion called for trade unions to use their influence with the government to bring about “peace, safety and justice” to the region.

Moving the motion, CWU national president Andy Mercer said: “Over the last few months we have witnessed the unilateral launching of war in Iran alongside further escalation in Lebanon by the United States and Israel.

“This is unnecessary and a dangerous conflict, and it is ordinary people paying the price.”

“The far-right Netanyahu government and the Trump administration have recklessly endangered the people of Iran, Palestine and Lebanon, but it also hits us here,” he said. “Because of their unilateral actions, the cost of living is going up, fuel prices are rising and our members are being made to pay the price.

“There are real material consequences for working people everywhere.

“As trade unionists, we can’t stand aside. Our movement has been built on the simple and powerful principle that an injury to one is an injury to all.

“Silence is not an option. We stand with the innocent victims of this war and want to send a clear message that this union will always stand for justice and peace for workers everywhere.”