On January 27, a Western Australian delegates' meeting of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) passed a significant motion of support for Palestine, denouncing Israel's recent aggression and calling on the federal government to cut all ties with Israel.
The resolution calls for the MUA state conference to initiate a boycott of all ships and goods with ties to Israel.
The resolution follows an earlier statement by the national MUA, calling for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal by Israeli troops from Gaza. In a statement on January 5, MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said: "We call on the international trade union movement and the Australian government to join the UN General Assembly condemnation of the invasion as a 'monstrosity' and the Israeli blockade of Gaza as a breach of international law."
The text of the WA resolution reads:
1. This delegates' meeting of the WA branch of the MUA calls on the Rudd government to denounce the latest Israeli aggression against Gaza, and to cut all economic, diplomatic, cultural and political ties with the Israeli state until this aggression and the Israeli siege of Gaza ends.
2. This meeting gives its full organisational and financial support to the protest movement in Australia against the Israeli aggression. In particular, the WA branch of the MUA will inform its membership of the Friends of Palestine WA rally taking place this [on January 31] in Forrest Place and provide a speaker, preferably secretary Chris Cain.
3. We also call on the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and Unions WA to give full organisational and financial support to the protest movement in Australia against the Israeli aggression. In particular we call on Unions WA to give full organisational and financial support to the action initiated by Friends of Palestine WA which will be happening at midday in Forrest Place on January 31.
4. We will participate fully in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign when it is initiated and support actions related thereof when they are called by either Friends of Palestine WA or other interested parties (including other trade unions). We call on the ACTU and Unions WA to join us in supporting the BDS campaign and specific actions related thereof.
5. In furtherance of resolution 4, this meeting recommends [MUA] state conference adopt a position of boycotting all Israeli-registered vessels, and all vessels known to be carrying either goods destined for Israel or goods sourced from Israel.
6. We stand, as we always have, for the long union tradition of campaigning for peace, which has always been a principle of the union movement in Australia.