Per-Olof Mattsson
Swedish dock workers called a boycott of Israeli goods and ships coming into their ports, in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the freedom flotilla
The Swedish Dock Workers’ Union was founded in 1972 in opposition to the right-wing leadership of the social democratic-led trade union federation (LO). It has ever since been a radical union that doesn’t hesitate to support left-wing initiatives.
On June 2 the union announced that they are going to blockade all Israeli ships and goods, both from and to Israel, from June 15 to June 24. The reason cited by the union is the following: ”the unprecedented criminal assault on the peaceful ship convoy Ship to Gaza. Several peace activists were killed by Israeli commando soldiers, and the other participants were interned without any basis whatsoever.”
The Dock Workers’ Union have also been an official supporter of Ship to Gaza. The statement appeals to other unions and organisations to take similar initiatives and calls for a general blockade of Israeli goods until the rights of the Palestinian people have been recognised in general, and especially until the blockade of Gaza have been ended.
The assault on Ship to Gaza dominated Swedish media for almost a week. Prominent Swedish representatives were on the ships, such as the writer Henning Mankell, and the Swedish-Israeli musician and composer Dror Feiler. Foreign minister Carl Bildt condemned the action as illegal, followed by the leaders of the red-green alliance – the social democrats, the Greens, and the Left Party. The more radical demands from left and green leaders for a boycott were, as expected, held back by their alliance with the pro-Israeli social democrats.
At the same time as the parliament in Stockholm are debating what to do, without, of course, reaching any conclusion, this union are taking action. And they are acting in the direction of where it hurts. This is an excellent example of workers’ solidarity with the Palestinian people. It should be publicised and followed by other unions.