WORKERS and students across the country will stage protests tomorrow to demand action from the British government after more than a year of Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Workplaces, universities and schools will be targeted with a day of action to press the government to halt all arms trade with Israel.
Britain has suspended just 30 out of 350 arms licences to the country, despite the Israeli military killing over 42,000 in Gaza and at least 2,000 more in its recent attacks on Lebanon.
Called by the Stop the War trade union network, the day of action will see workplace rallies, meetings, joint actions by lecturers and students, and school strikes up and down the country.
The action has been backed by Britain’s largest trade union Unison, with the UCU renewing its support, and comes after the TUC backed a motion supporting workplace days of action for Palestine at its annual congress last month.
Stop the War vice-chairman Chris Nineham said: “The TUC’s support shows that the trade union movement nationally is swinging behind workplace action in order to force the government to stop colluding in genocide.”
A Unison spokesperson said: “Unison has consistently called for a ceasefire in Gaza, and now in Lebanon, the release of hostages and access to humanitarian assistance.
“Unions will continue to call on world leaders to do all they can to avoid a wider regional conflict.”
Among the actions will be a lunchtime rally outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, an anti-war “teach-out” at the University of Westminster, a lunchtime staff and student walkout at Kingston University, and a rally at Manchester’s St Peter’s Square.
Peter Leary, deputy director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) which is supporting the day of action, said: “We urge everyone to get involved and show they will not be silent while the government actively assists Israel’s genocidal attacks.”
A school strike in Bristol will also target the headquarters of Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer.
Bristol School Strike for Palestine, a co-organiser behind the action said: “If the government will not represent the views of the public majority, then it falls on us to take action in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Today, Palestine Action activists targeted 10 offices across the country belonging to German firm Allianz, which has shares in Elbit Systems and provides insurance services for the company.
At least three were arrested after activists occupied the Allianz headquarters in Guilford, scrawled “drop Elbit” all over the premises and shut down operations.
Offices in Glasgow, Manchester, Lancaster, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, Milton Keynes and two in London were also targeted and doused in blood-red paint.
PSC will hold a trade union solidarity conference on the issue on October 19 in London.
