This union organisation condemns the unprovoked attack on Iran by Trump and the Israeli regime.
It is already causing thousands of deaths, injuries and displacement of ordinary people, and is rapidly escalating across the Middle East.
This union organisation totally rejects any idea that this war is in the interests of the Iranian people in their striving for democratic rights and their struggle against repression.
It is the for the Iranian working class and poor to decide for themselves and act to change their government. There have been heroic mass protests and strikes that have shaken the Iranian regime, and trade unions internationally should support the struggles of the Iranian workers and youth for their demands.
It is clear that this is an aggressive, imperialist offensive, in the interests of big business, by the US and Israeli governments that have blood on their hands with an increasing list of attacks and wars in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Venezuela and while Trump is threatening to attack Cuba and annex Greenland.
This war has nothing to do with democracy as the US and other powers like Britain fully support the dictatorial Saudi regime which does not even pretend to hold elections or allow free speech.
This union organisation also condemns the hypocrisy of Starmer’s Labour government which has effectively backed the aggression of Trump and Netanyahu over this whole period.
The Starmer government’s claim that it supports defence against Iranian attacks is a propaganda trick aimed at covering up its refusal to criticise the US and Israeli for starting this war. It is similar to the attempts to justify the genocidal attack on Gaza.
This union organisation demands that our union NEC meets urgently to:
1. Make a clear public statement against this attack and opposes Starmer and the Labour government’s warmongering, and effective support for the US attack, and any intention to join this imperialist war
2. Agree to demand an emergency meeting of the TUC General Council to call a national trade union led weekend demonstration against war, racism and austerity
3. To urgently call a national meeting of union reps in the defence, aerospace, transport and logistics sectors to discuss a programme for workers in these sectors, committing to defend any workers threatened by management for refusing to carry out work duties related to military production and supply. Also, to look at how alternatives to military production can be drawn up and implemented, guaranteeing workers’ jobs, pay and pensions, based on the nationalisation of those industries
4. To set out a timetable for a discussion in our union on our relationship with Labour (if affiliated) and/or initiate with other unions, a conference on political representation
If this motion passes in your union branch or trades council then email a report to editors@socialistparty.org.uk
