Last week, The Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI), which represents over 3,500 workers at 11 major national ports, declared to deny offering loading and unloading services to ships carrying weapons to Israel.
The union stated the decision was symbolic and they have not confronted any such ship carrying weapons to Israel.
“The Water Transport Workers Federation of India has decided to deny loading or unloadin weaponized cargoes from Israel or any other country which could handle military equipment and its allied cargo for war in Palestine,” WTWFI said in a press release dated February 14.
The union added in its press release “Port workers, part of labour unions would always stand against the war and killing innocent people like women and children. The recent attack of Israel on Gaza jabbed thousands of Palestinians into suffering and loss. Women and children have been blown to pieces in the war. Parents were unable to recognise their children killed in bombings which were exploding everywhere”.
The union noted that their services enabled the delivery of weapons to Israel as well as Palestine, which annoyed the ongoing war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis.
The union called for an immediate ceasefire. It was also added that they have, “collectively decided to refuse handling all types of weaponised cargoes.”
“Loading and unloading these weapons helps provide organizations with the ability to kill innocent people,” the union added.
The general secretary of WTWFI, T Narendra Rao, confirmed that the decision was taken in line with the World Federation of Trade Unions. He said a collective decision was taken at a meeting with global trade unions in Athens when the war started.
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