US labour leaders voice support for Gaza ceasefire

This week, a coalition of US labour leaders joined together at a press conference on Capitol Hill to voice their support for a ceasefire in Gaza.

As they made their statements in support of a ceasefire, the union leaders were joined on Thursday by US Representatives Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri, who are co-sponsors of a congressional ceasefire resolution.

“We know unions provide a bridge toward fighting all forms of hatred, phobias, racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia, Islamophobia and more,” said Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto workers. 

Beside him were representatives from the United Electrical Workers and the American Postal Workers Union, who all positioned their support for Palestinians as being part of a long history of civil rights.

“Now it’s time for the rest of our elected leaders to step up and do what it takes to end the violence," Fain said.

Thursday's gathering on Capitol Hill comes just over two weeks after the UAW endorsed a ceasefire for Gaza during a week-long hunger strike, which ended with the union's announcement on 1 December.

Following this week's press conference, US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib took to social media to thank the auto workers' union for their support of a ceasefire.

"I am a proud daughter of the @UAW It was an honor to stand alongside President @ShawnFainUAW and other union leaders calling for a ceasefire now. I wish my dad was alive to see his union demand peace and justice for all," Tlaib wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Since Hamas's 7 October surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 Israelis, nearly 19,000 Palestinians have been killed from continuous Israeli airstrikes and raids as of the end of this week. 

The US administration has resisted calls for a ceasefire from progressive US politicians and activists, as well as from other countries, vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution earlier this month calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.