On Thursday trade-union activists, workers and students turned out in solidarity for Palestine, organising a wide range of protests in workplaces across the country

Bristol

Staff and students from City of Bristol College took part for the eighth time in the National Workplace Day of action. This time, they moved their lunchtime demo 100 meters up the road to outside City Hall and were joined by comrades from surrounding workplaces including the University of Bristol and striking NEU members from St. Brendan’s Sixth-Form college. Delegates from Bristol Trades Council as well as members from NEU, Unison, UCU and PCS came out to College Green. The rally was hosted by the chair of Bristol Stop the War and speakers included a Professor Emeritus of Bristol University, the chair of Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign, an NEU rep, a consultant from the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and the chair of PCS and Southwest TUC.

With TUC backing, there was greater scope for coordinated action and lunchtime rallies also took place at Glass Wharf and outside Elbit Systems in Filton. A vigil also took place outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary in the afternoon.

There were dozens of further actions: at Southmead Hospital and the Speedwell Centre to name a couple.

Stafford Unison NHS workers

Eight of us (including photo taker) at St George’s Hospital in Stafford staged an action for Palestine. This was a good turnout given that we were not allowed to publicise it on the Trust noticeboard and a statement had been issued about not doing politics on Trust premises, where there are lots of shift workers who don’t always get a break at the same time. Our ward manager tried her best to let the staff have their breaks together to join, but an emergency on the ward meant it wasn’t possible.

Soas students and staff

Out in the winter cold, students and staff gathered in their hundreds at Soas to show their solidarity against the university’s crackdown on the pro-Palestine movement as part of the workplace day of action. Speakers included the long-time campaigner Andrew Feinstein, Jeremy Corbyn, the student activist Haya Adam, and Lindsey German from Stop the War Coalition. Soas and its umbrella organisation, the University of London has suspended multiple students for their solidarity with Palestine and had secured an injunction to stop any and all demonstrations on their own campus. Thursday’s demonstration was a vibrant show of support for all those whose views had been suppressed by Soas.

A Midlands school

I work in a school. While support for Palestine and for a ceasefire is widespread, most of the staff are not in unions and depoliticised in the workplace, with reports of students getting penalised for bringing up Palestine in class. On Thursday we managed a samosa sale to raise money for the disasters emergency committee, raising over £50. I wore a keffiyeh to work and put a watermelon emoji in my email signature. Many workplaces even in the public sector will be like mine, and it’s simply a case of getting the ball rolling. The more we bring up Palestine and the genocide with our colleagues, the more confident people will feel in speaking out and taking action.

An office in London

I work in a corporate environment where discussing Israel and Palestine is a daunting task. Getting a small number of people together who agreed with the action and would be happy to sign on with the action was really helpful in feeling protected from repercussions. Having a sense of accountability to a wider group of people and receive feedback was helpful. We shared educational messages with colleagues and raised funds for humanitarian aid, and shared Oxfam’s ceasefire petition.

A North London health centre

We had a team lunch and we decided in a gesture of solidarity and remembrance, we would dedicate the lunch to honouring those lives lost and recognising the resilience of those who endure amidst the hardship. The event featured a selection of Palestinian dishes; a small way to celebrate the culture and strength of the Palestinian people. There were a few issues with management as they were not happy; apparently someone complained about us bringing ‘our politics’ to work.

Manchester trade unions

The TU day of action saw events by trade unionists across Greater Manchester and culminated in a rally in central Manchester. Speakers included Union officials from Unite, Unison, UCU, and representatives from local Trades Councils. The assistant branch secretary of GMMH Unison branch who are currently taking strike action gave a fantastic speech linking the struggles in the UK and in Palestine, and Tony Wilson from Unison announced that his branch have just voted to take strike action. Links were made between the Palestine campaign and the campaigns against austerity and climate change. It was a great turn out despite the bitterly cold weather and the rally ended with a renewed determination to keep campaigning and to continue pushing the unions to engage and support the Palestine campaign fully.

Greater Manchester Transport Unison

Over £50 was collected by Greater Manchester Transport Unison branch members at lunchtime Thursday 28 November from passers-by and Unison members in aid of Medical Aid for Palestinians. The call was made to stop the genocide in Gaza and for a ceasefire now. Later we joined the evening rally in St. Peter’s square of trade-union speakers and Tony Wilson spoke as Vice Chair of Unison NEC’s International committee.

Newcastle

Around 100 trade unionists and students gathered at the Haymarket in central Newcastle at noon to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the end of arms sales to Israel. Unions which provided speakers included UCU, PCS, Unison and NEU as well as the local trades council and student speakers. There were visibly strong delegations from PCS, UCU and Unison with banners.

The rally was organised by Trades Unionists for Palestine, a new group set up by local Palestine Solidarity Campaign members with support from Newcastle Stop the War.

Bedfordshire University Unison

Unison members at Beds Uni in Luton let staff and students eat cake with their popular bake sale to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians and to demand the government stops arming Israel.

Preston

Lancashire Trades Council coordinated the workers’ day of action in Preston. A rally was held in the city centre from 12-1pm with workers from local government and education sectors joining during their lunch break. A number of college students from the local sixth-form college joined the rally, with several signing up to join the coach to Saturday’s national demo in London.