Civil service union demands legal protection for staff refusing ‘tasks relating to Israel’
EXCLUSIVE: Letter sent to permanent secretaries by Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) civil service branch also condemns flying of Israeli flag above government departments
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A left-wing trade union representing civil servants across three government departments has requested “clarification” over “matters of conscience and legality” on what is describes as “Israel’s war on Palestine.”
A letter sent to four permanent secretaries on behalf of a Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) branch, appears to back claims that Israel’s response to the October 7th Hamas terrorist in Gaza “may be a genocide ” and suggests it shares the concerns of “countless members” that “civil servants must not undertake any action which is unlawful whether under domestic or international law.”
It adds:”Some members of staff will not wish to undertake tasks relating to Israel” and that “some of these colleagues may wish to refuse to work on Israeli policy” calling for them to be “legally protected under the Equality Act 2010.”
Jewish News understands that some Jewish civil servants who have received the letter were left stunned by the one-sided nature of the union’s stance on the Gaza conflict.
The letter, addressed to top civil servants in the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and sent on November 23rd , also adds that the union branch “wish to express our strong opposition to any continuation of the flying of the Israeli flag by the departments.”
It states:”Flying the Israeli flag implied that departments, and by extension those who work in them are supportive of such the actions by the Israeli government that contravene international humanitarian law, whether prior to October 7 or presently.”
The letter, from the BEIS London and South Executive Committee of the PCS , continues:”This is a disgraceful politicisation of the civil service and wrongly gives the impression that everyone walking into the building under that flag supports Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza…..”
The union branch, headed by chair Duncan Gallon, a senior policy adviser, who is the lead signatory of the letter suggests that if the Israeli flag is flown above any department in the future “we demand that it is removed.”.
It ends by calling for “urgent responses” to the points raised “setting out how you will ensure the safety and well being of your staff in your departments.”
A motion on “Palestine Solidarity” from the same civil service union branch had welcomed a PCS statement of October 13th condemning “attacks on civilians whether these committed against Israeli civilians on October 7 or the on-going attacks on Palestinian people.”
But it also backed “continued and unwavering support and affiliation to (the) Palestine Solidarity Campaign” and actively encouraged members to join the now weekly demos organised by the group.
PCS union chief Mark Serwotka announced in May that he is to retire after 23 years due to health issues.In 2018 he sparked anger when he suggested Israel “created” the antisemitism row in Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
