A Statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict from the Executive Committee of USW Local 1998

The Executive Committee of USW Local 1998 adds its voice to the growing call by labour organizations (including the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council), Muslim, Jewish and other faith communities, and many individuals in civil society for:

an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza and the restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza
the immediate, safe return of all hostages and civilians being held in detention without charge.

Without these actions being taken, the conflict threatens to escalate and spread so that the misery already inflicted on thousands of people engulfs many thousands more.

We condemn all attacks on innocent civilians and express our sorrow and empathy for all those who have suffered pain and deprivation from past and recent acts of aggression and hostility in the decades-old conflict. We also condemn all forms of racism, including anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic and antisemitic acts. We pledge to support the building of anti-racist, inclusive and hate-free workplaces and to fight back against the efforts of governments and employers to thwart free speech and academic freedom within those spaces.