Many American unions have signed on to a Jewish Labor Committee statement of opposition expressing disapproval in British union support for boycotting Israel.
Labor leader opposition comes from presidents of the following organizations: AFL-CIO; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; United Food and Commercial Workers; Communications Workers of America; Masters, Mates and Pilots / ILA; American Postal Workers Union; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; UAW; American Federation of School Administrators; Office and Professional Employees International Union; American Federation of Government Employees; UNITE-HERE; United Mine Workers of America; Sheet Metal Workers International Association; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Transportation Communications Union; American Federation Musicians; Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union; the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; the Coalition of Black trade Unionists; and the A. Philip Roth Institute.
Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Jewish Labor committee and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union said, "The U.S. labor movement has always been a strong supporter of Israel and continues to be [...American union leaders] understand that resolutions calling for boycotts of Israel undermine the goal of winning a lasting peace in the Middle East."
As this well-expressed statement explains, divestment from companies doing business with Israel, and boycotts of the country are incredibly detrimental to the state itself, as well as to any future peace between Israeli and Palestinian or other Arab governments. The answer lies in proactive measures, not boycotts. NJDC lauds the JLC and the numerous unions that have joined together to condemn the British Union ban on Israel.
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