Unison trade union accused of backing ‘one-sided and demonising’ approach to Israel

One of the country’s biggest trade unions has been accused of pursuing a “one-sided and demonising” approach towards debate around Israel and the Palestinians at its latest annual conference.

Delegates attending public service union Unison’s annual conference  in Liverpool  voted in favour of an anti-Israel motion that called for “support” of “Amnesty International’s call on the International Criminal Court to consider the crime of apartheid” against the Jewish state.

The same motion also included backing for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS)  “for local government pension funds to engage with the companies they invest in and to demand they end their involvement in the occupied Palestinian territory and in the violation of Palestinian human rights.”

While two anti-Israel motions were passed by the union, delegates inside the venue told Jewish News there was cheering and clapping at one point in the debate when a speaker challenged Unison’s boycott of Israel’s Histadrut trade union specifically on the grounds that it should engage with progressive forces and foster dialogue between workers across the globe, rather than cause further division.

One speaker told the conference floor they had actually changed position over BDS, after realising it meant Unison was snubbing trade unionists in Israel.

Delegates also supported an amendment tabled during the debate urging Unison’s political fund to pressure the Labour Party “to secure a commitment from the next Labour government to recognise Palestine as an independent state”.  

The amendment appeared to recognise, and challenge the fact that Keir Starmer was attempting to pursue a more neutral position on Israel and Palestine than had previously been the case under Jeremy Corbyn.

Reacting to Unison’s position on the conflict, We Believe In Israel director Luke Akehurst told Jewish News:””It’s disappointing that Unison has passed motions that are so one-sided and demonising of Israel. 

“The language they use about the apartheid allegation and overt support for BDS prevent any sensible discussion about solving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. 

“Israel has a fantastic union movement, led by Histadrut, that is both a force for peace and fights on behalf of Palestinian workers in Israel. 

“If Histadrut and the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions can cooperate to secure workers’ rights, why isn’t Unison working in solidarity with both of them? Unison should be providing practical support to Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists, not picking sides in the conflict.”

Reporting on the international motions at this year’s conference the official Unison website said:”Delegates heard impassioned speeches on international women’s rights and the importance of resisting apartheid in Palestine.”

It was notable that debate around Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine was overlooked.

A further fringe event on Palestine took place at the union’s conference, hosted by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Responding to the approach taken towards Israel by Unison, Steve Scott of Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue (BITUD) told Jewish News:”We dispair at the one sided approach that Unison takes on Israel. 

“The fact that there is no mention of their fellow trade unionists in Israel taking the drastic action of a general strike to stop controversial government reforms demonstrates a disregard for facts and balance in a debate. 

“Probably because of the fact that Histadrut’s actions were successful, this would damage their narrative. 

“Unison should be doing better than this.”

Unison has 1.3 million members across a wide variety of jobs in all public service areas and those employed by public authorities and in private companies.