Comrades,
Dublin Council of Trade Unions (DCTU) sends fraternal greetings to your important international conference on the issue of Palestine. Your initiative demonstrates the importance of united trade union action across national boundaries in combatting the genocidal war that is being conducted by the government of Israel.
Dublin Council of Trade Unions brings together all the trade unions in the Dublin area and is itself an important component of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).
DCTU stands for an end to the national oppression of the Palestine people. Along with other Irish trade unions and trades councils, DCTU has been active in mobilising support for the people of Palestine in their struggle and has engaged in a range of activities to this effect. We have devoted a lot of attention to the Palestine-led international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. We are currently seeking the immediate implementation of promised legislation, known as ‘Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill’. which is awaiting enactment. This Bill would ban all trade between Ireland and Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. The Bill has already passed various stages in the national Parliament (Dáil) but has been stalled at committee stage due to government inaction and a conservative parliamentary majority.
At the monthly meetings of our Council, we always devote time to consideration of international issues. Inevitably the continuing crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated by the Israeli government, aided and supported by the US administration, constitute the predominant issue since Israel launched its recent genocide in Gaza. Israel flouts all aspects of international humanitarian law, and its leaders have been found by the International Criminal Court to be complicit in the crime of genocide. In addition, Human Rights bodies across the world, including the United Nations and its relevant organisations, have persistently spoken against the blockade by Israel of medicines, water, power, food and other essentials which are urgently needed by the people of Gaza.
Opposition to the current war against Palestinians is an issue that affects all trade unionists, and DCTU welcomes your initiative in this regard.
Trade unions across the world must unite to fight the actions of the IDF. A united international trade union movement, that spans national boundaries, is essential. It is important to build campaigning, fighting, working class organisations to resist capitalist and colonial powers across the globe, who have been exploiting workers by trying to divide them along national, religious and ethnic lines. We are committed to fighting this insidious practice, which has done so much damage to communities across the world.
Once again, we offer our Fraternal Greetings at your very significant International, and we wish you every success in your endeavours.
We also hope to deepen our involvement with your organisation in the future.
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Fraternally,
Finn Geaney
President Dublin Council of Trade Unions