The Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota is calling on union members to join protests against the Israeli military aggression towards Gaza.

SFWU Northern Regional Secretary Jill Ovens says many New Zealanders are feeling helpless to stop the massacre of the people in Gaza by the Israelis and we need to find a way to express our outrage.

“We urge our members in Auckland and Wellington to protest the serious violations of international humanitarian law being committed by the Israeli Government. This collective punishment of the Palestinian population is a disproportionate response, which will not bring peace to the region. It must stop.”

The bombardment of a UN compound housing 700 Palestinian refugees today is the latest in a long history of crimes committed during the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and the Union is calling on the New Zealand Government to condemn this violent act.

The union, which represents more than 22, 000 workers, is encouraging members to attend the protest in Auckland this Saturday at Rakon Industries (which manufactures crystal oscillators for targeted bombs used by the Israeli air force in their attacks on Gaza) or the march from Cuba Street to Parliament in Wellington next Tuesday (20 January).

For further information and comment please contact:

Jill Ovens 027 446 4966.

Notes for editors:

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (which brings together over 350, 000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions) has already called upon the New Zealand Government to take a number of practical actions including:

• Revoking the credentials of the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand.
• Cutting contacts with Israeli military and intelligence officials outside of official UN sponsored peacekeeping or observer liaison.
• Ensuring that New Zealand does not import goods manufactured, in whole or in part, in the Occupied Territories.
• Ensuring that the New Zealand government does not make use of Israeli products or services in its procurement provisions.
• Taking steps to ensure that New Zealand sourced goods and services are not used by Israel to further its occupation of Palestinian lands.

Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota

www.sfwu.org