Nearly two years into the United States and Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the leadership of some Australian unions is only just beginning to show solidarity. While welcome, these gestures fall far short of what is needed to help Palestine.
Before the historic March for Humanity across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, about a dozen unions signed a letter urging New South Wales Premier Chris Minns to reconsider opposing the march.
Despite thousands of union members calling for action, union leaderships have been slow to respond. For instance, the 100-strong National Council of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), which represented all branches and rank-and-file members passed a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution last year. However the NTEU executives have not followed through.
While some unions have issued social media statements, few have explicitly condemned the genocide.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) only called for targeted sanctions in May. So far, Anthony Albanese’s government has imposed fewer than a dozen targeted sanctions, including, more recently on Israeli ministers.
Are union leaders waiting for permission from the Prime Minister before opposing a live-streamed genocide unfolding before our eyes?
The length of time it’s taken for union leaders to act is even more troubling considering investments held by Industry Super funds. Union leaders sit on the boards of these funds, including the largest one Australian Super.
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s July report From the economy of occupation to the economy of genocide names 48 companies that are implicated in the Gaza genocide.
Australian Super holds significant stakes in several, including: Elbit Systems ($30,000), whose drones killed aid workers including Australian Zomi Frankcom; Palantir Technologies ($827,000), whose artificial intelligence supports Israeli targeting systems selecting new targets every 20 seconds; Caterpillar ($13.8 million), whose machinery demolishes homes, mosques, and hospitals; and Lockheed Martin ($11.9 million), supplier of jets used in Gaza’s aerial attacks.
ACTU President Michelle O’Neil is a member of Australian Super’s board, as well as the board of Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA where she is Vice Chairperson. APHEDA is committed to human rights and international law. How can O’Neil remain silent while a fund she directs invests in companies profiting from genocide and despite hundreds of complaints from fund members and credible United Nations evidence?
O’Neil is not alone. Many union leaders sit on industry super fund boards which continue to invest millions of dollars in companies complicit in genocide. They include Helen Cooney, National Assistant Secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) who sits on the board of Rest Super. The SDA has abstained from issuing any statement in solidarity with Palestine.
Paul Farrow, National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), sits on the board of Australian Super. The AWU leadership has not shown any solidarity with Palestine, causing some members to resign in protest.
Is the close relationship between industry super funds and the union leadership limiting the union movement’s willingness to push for real action? Is this why union endorsement of the BDS movement is almost non-existent? Would backing BDS risk union leaders’ positions on these boards?
If unions are serious about their solidarity with Palestinians, their leaders must urgently act — not just speak. They must align their governance with the values they claim to hold as well as their financial duties to members.
Continuing to hold these investments is a moral failure and risks financial harm when these companies are finally brought to account.
Union leaderships’ inaction shames all union members and the union movement must do more. Attending rallies and posting on social media is not enough. Unions must endorse the BDS campaign, sign on to the August 24 national day of action for Palestine, and move toward strikes and bans that bring an end to Australia’s military, diplomatic and economic support for Israel.
Union members should be asking questions and making enquiries. Contact your super fund to ask if it invests in complicit firms, and if so, ask why.
[Clint Duncan is a member of the Australian Services Union and Unionists for Palestine.]