There is a strong tradition within UCU of standing in solidarity with Palestine. Year after year, members have brought motions to Congress to deepen and strengthen UCU’s support for Palestinian rights and to pressure the UK government. This reflects a deep commitment by our members to internationalism.

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Internationalism is not an optional extra for trade unions. We understand that workers’ struggles are connected across borders, and that standing with the oppressed everywhere is both a moral necessity and a materialone. War and militarism are repeatedly used to divide and rule – we can it being used to foster nationalism & racism and to justify repression. It’s being used to shift our public money away from wages, housing, education, and healthcare – particularly as Starmer’s government seeks Trumps’ approval. The British state makes conscious political choices — to sell arms to Israel for profit, and to prioritise war over the needs of working-class people at home.

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Palestinians are facing imperialism in its most brutal form:dispossession, military repression, and exploitation. Trade unions have never been, and shouldn’t be, neutral institutions – we have to call out oppression and repression.

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But solidarity with Palestine cannot be something we merely say.We have to show it in practice, it has to be active and visible.

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The scale of the movement shows what is possible. It is astounding that Saturday marked the 34th national demonstration for Palestine, with around 100,000 people on the streets. That level of sustained mobilisation is powerful.Our branch either collectively or individual members have been on every single one. The marches raise the political profile and put pressure on the government.But it also builds confidence, and reminds people that they are not alone. When the threat feels overwhelming, collective action makes us feel stronger.

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But, we also have to organise at work, in our colleges and universities.

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As the war began, staff and students at college were so shocked and angry. As the scale of the Israeli assault became clear, many wanted to show their solidarity — but there was real fear about what was allowed. Members came up to me, asking in hushed voices if they were allowed to wear keffiyehs or Palestine badges. Back then, the then Home Secretary, Suella Braverman,openly discussed criminalising the display of Palestinian flags at demonstrations - that climate of intimidation was chilling.

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In our branch, we responded collectively. We organised a lunchtime protest as part of the Workplace Day of Action for Palestine. Around 80 staff and students turned out. far more than we expected. People were desperate to be together, to not feel isolated in their fear and anger, and to publicly state their solidarity with Palestine. Our students were really moved by hearing David Rosenberg, from Jewish Socialist Group, as they hadn’t heard that history before.

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We have continued to organise and mark every Day of Action for Palestine since. This consistency has mattered. Members who were previously less active have taken on roles. It has demonstrated, in practice, that our branch is organised, visible, and willing to stand in solidarity.

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And it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. One member was disciplined over their support for Palestine. I represented them, drawing onsupport from the ELSC and from reps across UCU, particularly in HE. A week before the disciplinary hearing, we organised a workplace demonstration under the banner “UCU WKC supports free speech”. The pressure worked: the member wasn't sacked. That outcome was not luck, it was the result of determination and collective action.

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We haven’t won everything that we wanted. In particular, we've repeatedly tried to organise staff–student events on solidarity with Palestine, but these are always blocked by management. We’ve been told the college must remain “apolitical”, and initially, they argued such events could be perceived as antisemitic. We utterly reject this argument. Supporting Palestinian human rights is not antisemitic, it is a humanitarian issue and one that we must continue to champion.

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The lesson is clear - our strength lies in our organisation in workplaces and across the union. When we act collectively, we protect each other, build confidence, and give real meaning to solidarity. Free, free Palestine! 

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