Warehouse Workers Action Calls on Chicago City Council to Back Ceasefire in Gaza
This move comes before today’s vote in the health and human services committee
December 18, 2023, Chicago – After 74 days, the Israeli assault on Gaza has killed and injured over 68,000 people(1), approximately 5% of the total population of Gaza.
Our hearts grieve for all those whose lives have already been lost or irreparably altered. As a worker center, we believe that all the workers of the world deserve to live free from fear and oppression. The military operation in Gaza, as well as Israeli proposals for a post-war reconstruction(2), raise fears of genocidal intent through the targeting of places of worship(3), hospitals(4), designated safe zones(5), international aid organizations(6) and key civilian infrastructure(7) in a manner that places the entire civilian population under persistent existential fear. The unprecedented casualties among journalists(8), which are now being referred to the International Criminal Court(9), raise further concerns.
While Palestinians endure endless bombardment in Gaza, thousands more have lost their jobs across Israel(10) in a mass labor retaliation for a crime said workers did not commit. This retaliation is immoral and is putting families and communities at risk of financial collapse while also crippling many sectors of the Israeli economy. Meanwhile, the Israeli government has been moving to replace Palestinian workers by “importing” Indian workers against the protest of major Indian trade unions(11), even as a senior Israeli official promotes plans to finance the reconstruction of Gaza through the mass displacement of Gazan workers(12).
The Democratic convention is only months away and soon the eyes of the world will be on Chicago. As children freeze on Chicago’s streets with no support from Federal authorities, either in the form of funding or work permits, our tax dollars go to restock the bombs being dropped on civilians in Gaza.
It is past time for Chicago to stand up and show that this is a union town that believes in the rights of all workers and that we are not afraid to speak our truth.
That is why we urge the Chicago City Council to stand on principle and call on the Biden administration to use all the tools at its disposal to secure an immediate ceasefire, an end to the unconditional armament of Israel, and immediate humanitarian assistance to all the civilian populations affected. The council has the ability to take the first step toward that today by passing the resolution through the Health and Human Services committee and we urge the members of the community to do so.
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Warehouse Workers Action builds the power necessary to secure higher wages, better working conditions, and stronger and healthier communities for Chicagoland warehouse workers and their families. Warehouse Workers Action is a 501 (c)(4) organization affiliated with Warehouse Workers for Justice.
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