Support of Palestinian Unions and Formal Charge Against General President O'Brien

[Tony R Cochran]

PDF attached, charge here:

Support of Palestinian Labor Unions and Formal Charge Against General President O'Brien

I, Tony Cochran, as a member in good standing with the General Teamsters Auto Truck Drivers and Helpers Local 162, hereby bring charges against International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien and produce the following resolution for consideration by the General Executive Board.

Charge Against General President O'Brien

General President O'Brien is charged with neglecting a call for solidarity from a fellow labor organization, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, whose members are currently enduring US-backed, Israeli bombings and violence. Gaza has been turned into a death zone, with Israeli officials turning off water, blocking critical medical and food supplies and forcibly expelling over 1 million Gazans from their homes. His failure to acknowledge and act upon this urgent plea for support demonstrates a breach of duty to the union and its members, as outlined in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters constitution. This neglect is particularly egregious given the immediate threat faced by our fellow workers in Gaza, and contradicts the principles of international solidarity and support for workers' rights that the union professes to uphold.

Excerpt from the Constitution: "It is recognized that the problems with which this labor organization is accustomed to deal are not limited to unionism or to organization and collective bargaining alone, but encompass a broad spectrum of economic and social objectives as set forth above and as the Union may determine from time to time. We therefore determine and assert that the participation of this labor organization, individually and with other organizations, in the pursuit and attainment of the objectives set forth herein is for the sole benefit of the organization and its members."

Excerpt from the Constitution: "...to engage in cultural, civic, legislative, political, fraternal, educational, charitable, welfare, social, and other activities which further the interests of this organization and its membership, directly or indirectly; to provide financial and moral assistance to other labor organizations."

Excerpt from the Constitution: "Today, as we are confronted by the challenges of a global economy dominated by multi-national corporations that sweep past national borders and forage the globe in search of new workers and resources to exploit, we recognize that the future of working people and the future of our great Union depend on our ability to organize the unorganized and to build alliances with workers throughout the world. We recognize that the struggle for human rights, including the fundamental right of workers to form and join free trade unions, implicates universal principles which cannot be confined by national borders. The welfare of our members is interrelated with the ability of our fellow workers in the global marketplace."

General President O'Brien's Statement: "We all know that this world is in a very difficult time. And it's unfortunate that innocent people are being victimized by this terrible situation, not only there [in Gaza] but also Ukraine, Russia. I am focused on fighting the war that I have been fighting for the 34 years of my life, that's the war on corporate America, that's the war on politicians that don't support us. And, um, it's unfortunate and hopefully there will be a resolution. People talk about the genocide and there is a higher court, higher power that's gonna decide that. I am just focused on the labor movement, focused on my members, and focused on making certain that workers are taken care of. That's my war."

https://youtu.be/ekxfywMnlVc?si=pybVOe01YSFQPWl1

Palestinian General Federation
of Trade Unions Statement for International Workers Day

Brothers and Sisters of unions and other labor organizations in the United States of America:

In the midst of pain and blood, in the displacement camps, amidst the rubble, and the ruins of our homes, workshops, factories, stores, and institutions destroyed by the "Israeli" occupation, using U.S.-made weapons, in the name of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), we call on you for solidarity.

Instead of celebrating with you on May 1st, International Workers Day, we are busy shrouding dozens of people who are being killed around the clock in the middle of a genocidal war against our people - in every sense of that word. This has led to the destruction of everything in the Gaza Strip (hospitals, health centers, schools, universities, streets, water purification, sewage, and other infrastructure, factories, shops, cultural centers, mosques, churches, and even unborn children), none of which were spared by the occupation’s bombs, missiles and shells (including internationally banned weapons, like white phosphorus).

We are living through wholesale slaughter and forced dislocation - ethnic cleansing - committed against us. This devastating war and its catastrophes have forced upon us in the PGFTU in Gaza great responsibilities to collect the broken bodies and even pieces of our people, healing the wounded and trying to ease their pain (without anesthetics, antibiotics or other medicine), dealing with the psychological trauma (especially of the children), while trying to convey the truth of this suffering and the humanitarian and environmental catastrophe to the world.

Since the beginning of the aggression, we in the PGFTU have considered ourselves an integral part of our people - not separated from their reality. We have suffered and lost thousands of members, union offices, facilities, and other institutions.

Despite our efforts to provide relief to our people with the limited support we have received and to raise the voice of our people loudly in international forums, we have encountered shocking silence and neglect by the international labor movement. However, we recognize there have been some exceptional examples of unions, clearly demonstrated in leading protests denouncing the Zionist war of genocide being waged on the Gaza Strip.

Several actions have come to light during the aggression, which must be closely observed and exposed, most notably:

First: U.S. unions need to expose the extent of the war crimes and genocide committed against our people and the biased American position and complicity in enabling the aggression. This must be confronted and continue to be protested to exert pressure against the export of U.S.- made weapons to the occupation. Pressure must be increased on the U.S. administration to abandon these hostile actions against the Palestinian people.

Secondly: There is the Israeli decision to suspend or terminate the contracts of thousands of workers in the Gaza Strip by local, Arab, and international institutions in connection with the war of extermination, depriving employees of their rights and compensation. It would have been better for these institutions to strengthen the workers' economic security by implementing support packages instead of firing them from work. This issue must be at the core of your concerns and struggle.

Third: The international labor movement, including the International Federation of Trade Unions, retreated to verbal positions without taking measures on the ground or pressuring the decision-makers to stop this war of extermination, limiting union activities to conferences and statements and not delving deeply into the need to guarantee humanitarian aid, or influencing international public opinion to expose the truth about Zionist crimes and the practices of the allied countries that continue to support Israel.

Among these steps is the struggle to ban the occupation’s trade unions internationally, as they are partners in the war of genocide. In particular, we call on American unions to boycott these unions to protest their complicity in this genocidal war.

Fourth: Unions can play an influential role in the United States to provide relief for hundreds of thousands of workers’ families whose homes and workplaces have been destroyed, leaving them to shelter in tents without any work or income. You can contribute to financial projects and relief funds for workers and temporary social security through coordination with the International Trade Union Confederation to alleviate the suffering of thousands of our people. We call on you to be our voice and advocate inside and outside America. What our people are experiencing and what workers and unions in particular, are exposed to is the most horrific

catastrophe known to humanity in recent decades. We ask that you convey our message and give voice to the suffering of hungry, starving workers and their families—not just to the American people, not just to your unions, but to the entire world.

We are a people enduring bombardment, hunger, disease, and all forms of suffering, but we are determined to live, to stand firm, and to rebuild from this destruction with our blood and many sacrifices.

Thank you for your efforts, and happy new year on International Workers Day. We will certainly carry the banner of victory despite the killing and destruction.

From your comrades in trade and professional unions in Gaza, Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions

Signatory: Basheer Al-Sisi, Member of the General Secretariat of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions - City of Gaza

[TheMilitantTeamster]

This is good! Lyin’ ain’t even going to “war” against UPS let alone corporate America. He’s too busy bootlicking politicians to care about us, let alone the Palestinians, but this is good to show how small he is. He just doesn’t care. Typical old guard union bureaucrat

[TheMilitantTeamster]

Tony what an education you’re giving! Glad we had that call today and so many people showed up. The WSWS thing was OK too.

so everyone: The Palestinian union that put out this call for support has been attacked by Hamas, Israel and others
good unionists are independent of governments even under threat of violence! Lyin’ could learn from them. The least he can do is support their calls for peace.