As the carnage in Gaza has continued, along with the flow of weapons from the Pentagon, voices calling for peace and justice have grown louder. By the beginning of March, ten national unions – including SEIU, the National Nurses Union, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, American Association of University Professors, along with APWU, UE, Painters, NWU, and UAW – representing the majority of all union members – have called for a ceasefire. The strength of that demand has led the AFL-CIO itself to support that call, a change that enabled state and city labor federations to issue their own statements.
On February 16, seven national unions and over 200 local unions formed the National Labor Network for Ceasefire (NLNC). Although ceasefire calls have reflected a range of views, the core positions are reflected in the Network’s central demands:
- An immediate ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas,
- Restoration of basic human rights,
- Immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas,
- Unimpeded full access for humanitarian aid,
- Our president calling for a permanent ceasefire.