‘Unhinged’ letter to all staff, organisers and officers includes ‘disgusting’ section about Palestine
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has sent a letter to all the union’s staff, organisers and officers that has been described as an ‘unhinged’ attempt to counter criticisms. Skwawkbox will publish analysis of the various sections separately – and will first cover what Unite figures have described as Graham’s ‘disgusting’ comments on Israel’s slaughter of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
The letter claims that Graham and Unite have led on opposition to the mass murder in Gaza – despite Graham being widely criticised for her silence on the issue and insiders saying that she had to be pressured into a proper statement on Gaza at all.
And the section, which is titled ‘Palestine’, goes on to make clear that while Unite has given a one-off donation (one that Skwawkbox understands was given suddenly and without approval by Unite’s elected executive) to Doctors without Borders, Ms Graham and the union under her will always prioritise defence industry jobs above any outside issues, despite the union’s official, democratic position in support of sanctions and a boycott against Israel.
The full section reads:
Palestine
Of all the issues that have been used in these attacks, probably the most abhorrent is the attempted weaponisation of the conflict and the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.
Unite, through the General Secretary and the Chair of the Union and the Executive Council, was the first major union to publicly and unambiguously call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We were very clear. We have watched on with horror the bombardment and destruction of Gaza, and the unbearable terror, suffering and death of its innocent civilians. We have been unequivocal that the deliberate killing of civilians, hostage-taking and collective punishment are war crimes and should be identified as such.
Unite has also donated £50,000 to Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders specifically to help the many victims of this horrific conflict. Most recently the General Secretary has written to the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) offering our solidarity after the horrific bombing of their Gaza headquarters which, alongside providing services to workers, was also functioning as a kindergarten and bakery.
However, we cannot and will not endorse any organisation which decides unilaterally and without any discussion (let alone agreement) with the workers themselves, to support the targeting of our members’ workplaces or their jobs. To be clear, this will not happen. No outside body, no matter what their political position, will be allowed to dictate terms to our Union and our members.
It is important to highlight here that it is a core principle of Unite that as a trade union the ‘first claim’ on our priorities is always the protection and advancement of our members’ interests at work. It is very simple. Unite cannot and never will advocate or support any course of action which is counter to that principle. We are a trade union, not a political party or single-issue campaign group.
Therefore, there is no contradiction for a trade union to hold a position of solidarity with Palestinian workers, while at the same time refusing to support campaigns that target our members’ workplaces without their support. Similarly, we cannot be expected to affiliate to organisations that actively work against our members and their jobs.
Examples include groups that look to build networks inside trade unions to undermine the defence industry or demand the disbandment of NATO and AUKUS. Whatever anyone may think personally about those objectives is irrelevant. We are a trade union with thousands of members employed in the defence industry. It is the views of affected members that take precedence in a trade union. That will not change and nor should it. Unite members have recently been attacked directly, been spat at and called “child killers”. We cannot and will not endorse this.
Emphases added
One furious senior insider told Skwawkbox:
She’s effectively saying members working in defence don’t care if what they make ends up killing women and children in Gaza – only jobs matter. Has she bothered asking any of them?
Another said:
Unite’s official position, democratically reached repeatedly at conference and confirmed again just last summer, is that it supports Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel. We didn’t add ‘except where it might affect defence jobs’. We’ve also voted for the end of trade agreements with Israel. This is disgusting by Sharon.
Sharon Graham has been alleged by insiders to have:
- banned Unite officials and national banners from pro-Gaza protests
- banned and smeared films and books exposing the ‘Labour antisemitism’ scam
- placed an official under investigation who refused to cancel a Palestine solidarity fringe event at Labour’s 2023 annual conference
- told her chief of staff to threaten a soon-to-retire official with the loss of a pension bonus if he did not soften his support for Palestinians
Her supporters also prevented debate and votes on Gaza at a meeting of the union’s elected executive earlier this month.
According to human rights group Euro Med Monitor, since 7 October last year Israel has killed over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded more than double that number, overwhelmingly women and children and many of them with life-changing injuries, while Gaza’s health and school systems have been bombed into collapse, often using US- and UK-made weapons and systems. More than a million people have been forcibly displaced and Gaza is in famine because of Israel’s blockade of food and vital supplies. Israel is formally on trial for genocide before the International Court of Justice and ordered to stop its slaughter – and has been found by UN human rights investigators to be committing genocide.
Unite was contacted for comment but did not respond by the press deadline.
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It is beyond disgusting. I wonder whether the supporters of the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party and Counterfire – who up to now have provided Graham with political cover – are going to continue to do so.
Not forgetting the Morning Star, conspicuously absent from the list considering it’s supposed to be a Socialist newspaper!
Counterfire? I’ve been signed up to Counterfire for several years or more, and I don’t recall ever coming across an article supporting Graham. Anyway, they reposted the following aticle by John Rees from 1999 a few days ago about Nato expansion and oil resources etc, which is very interesting:
‘Nato and the new imperialism’
https://www.counterfire.org/article/nato-and-the-new-imperialism/
” We are a trade union, not a political party or single-issue campaign group.”
This is the platform that she stood on.
There is nothing in the nature of Trade Unions or their history to suggest that their members will not strive for international solidarity.
What Graham and her allies are promoting is the narrowest form of business unionism whose fruits are weakened, if not destroyed unions and industries dismantled by finance. This is Taft Hartley unionism.
It is really all in the name ‘Union.’
bevin – As I tried to make clear above, surely what Graham is doing is precisely what she was elected to do by the majority of the Unite members who could be bothered to vote.
Excellent post. She and others have forgotten about the heroic history of our unions supporting working class struggles worldwide, from Russian revolution to South Africa.
When are you due to retire? And can I just say that if you’re a democrat and believe in democracy (which you obviously don’t if you support a fascist like Starmer!), then given that 99.9% of people who follow Skwawkbox would undoubtedly vote for you to be barred from this site, could you please go forth and fuck off and stop disrupting the comments section. Many thanks
Allan – What have I said above that is inaccurate?
Your inability to cope with reality is not my problem.
Ms G should have called for an immediate ceasefire 6 months ago.
So as well as calling for this needs to urgently call for:
The Release of all hostages on all sides including the 5,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails (including women & 160 children) on often no charges or the flimsiest of charges (Human Rights Watch).
Support for BDS.
Ban UK arms sales to Israel.
Close down Israeli arms companies in UK. Most of us are not prepared to walk on the other side of the road like the workerists?
Should be votes of No Confidence.
This is the first recommendation of a very recently published UN report.
Anatomy of a Genocide
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese*
97. The Special Rapporteur recommends that member states:
(a) Immediately implement an arms embargo on Israel, as it appears to have failed to comply with the binding measures ordered by the ICJ on 26 January 2024, as well as other economic and political measures necessary to ensure an immediate and lasting ceasefire and to restore respect for international law, including sanctions;
https://skwawkbox.org/2024/03/23/exclusive-unite-membership-falls-by-210000-under-graham/#comment-253768
False imprisonment, rape, torture, murder! How passe.
Nae Pasaran!
That’s the yardstick all other Union actions should be measured by. If it doesn’t – it’s not much of a Union. Bereft of solidarity and socialism.
Nae Pasaran!
George – As Graham makes clear in her letter there is a difference between workers deciding to take industrial action in their own workplace (like the historical RR industrial action that you have referenced) and other who have no connection with their workplace deciding for them.
Graham is nowt but a c**t and really ought to piss off to the states to lead the NRA imbeciles.
Toffee – Like it or not Sharon Graham was elected as the leader of the Unite Union and is clearly sticking to the platform that she was elected on.
Don’t worry, Toffee lad, she’ll be heading for the House of Lords for services rendered just as soon as Keef can swing it!
timfrom – Like Iain McNicol? 🤔
Toffee – Like it or not Sharon Graham…
Who rattled your cage? Boring twunt.
Tell us, O! genial one….
Is Keef sticking to the platform HE was elected on…Y’know? The socialist-cum-continuity, corbyn-like platform YOU – as a non-socialist – elected him on, (but ONLY because he was best of a bad bunch”)
If you think so then you’re required to qualify it by naming a single pledge he HASNT reneged on.
I’m sure we’re all dying to know.
Herr Flick
Why would any Union member be complicit in a Genocide, what’s the legal advice
Where’s your favourite Human Rights Lawyer when you need him
Doug – Why don’t you ask them?
I’ve asked you if keef’s sticking to the platform he was elected on (by you).
Your overt reticence (cowardice) in your non-response can only be interpreted as a ‘no’.
Because usually (to the point of being invariably) when you’ve been put on the spot there’s some wannabe, self-congratulatory, smartarsed response, but this latest question is demonstrably far too difficult for you that it doesn’t even get a default
“wee gobshite bingo-card” reply – with or without the infantile wingding.
I suppose I can now expect some sort of irrelevant, imbecilic and infantile response, so i guess I’d best strap myself in then, eh????
Toffee – Are you still obsessing about what was and wasn’t said 4yrs ago because in the here and now you have nothing to offer the electorate.
I’m looking forward to a Labour government being in power, what do you have to look forward to.
Keef does the obsessing from years ago, soft shite. Ask those he’s unjustly expelled for liking tweets or speaking to people/groups keef doesn’t lime
But first answer the question you were asked.
Toffee – I’ve given you my response, if you don’t like it then that’s tough. If you want a different answer then ask someone else or better still do some research and answer it yourself. You’re the one with the obsession.
Oh you’ve given YOUR response, irrelevant, obtuse and evasive as it is.
Still haven’t got the cojones or the wherewithal to answer the question without proving beyond doubt that you’re nowt bur a hypocritical noncecase.
.
Looking forward to a labour government – when you don’t even reside here (so you say)
And you wonder why the majority voted to leave the EU….And ypu don’t even reside there, neither.
So the next time (tomorrow) when keef’s broke a pledge or unjustly expelled his next victim, I’ll be reminding you of your (non)response that YOU gave here.
Gobshite
Toffee – As I said above you’re the one who is obsessing about the past (although for some reason you don’t appear to be very concerned about all those who were expelled in the Corbyn era).
Unlike you I wouldn’t wish another dose of this mendacious and corrupt Tory government on anybody, least of all my family and friends in the UK.
I’m surprised that you still haven’t managed to work out that It is of very little consequence to me what you decide to have a rant about. Why would it?
I’m looking forward to a Labour government being in power, what do you have to look forward to?
It is notable that Margaret Thatcher’s Govt ceased selling Arms to Israel
during her period in Office .. I think over the invasion of Lebanon. She also did not
hesitate in criticising them on occasion.
Sorry but others will have to supply details here as am pressed for time ..
I do not recall her EVER being called anti-semitic for doing so ..
And the arl’ hag was the mp for finchley, which, if im not mistaken, includes (or did include) golders green – probably the seat with the greatest amount/proportion of jewish residents in the uk.
……………..and most of them would have voted for her.