Civil service union demands legal protection for staff refusing ‘tasks relating to Israel’

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.