A union leader has complained that ACTU officials quashed debate over Gaza by waving through criticism of Israel but sending off calls for Hamas to release its hostages to be decided behind closed doors. Australian Services Union tax officers’ division secretary and Left-aligned official, Jeff Lapidos, attacked the ACTU policy endorsed at the peak body ’s triennial congress last week for calling on the Albanese government to pressure Israel to stop its bombing of Gaza but making no mention of Israeli hostages, Hamas or its role in the war.
Mr Lapidos’ proposed amendment to even up the policy – seconded by an official from the Right-aligned retail union – was one of 50 resolutions that ACTU president Michele O’Neil backed deferring to the ACTU executive, rather than face debate on the floor. The move was seen as part of a broader push by unions to avoid divisions or controversies playing out in public ahead of the next federal election.
Mr Lapidos, who submitted the amendment several hours before deadline and had prepared to speak on it, said ACTU secretary Sally McManus and other national secretaries ‘‘won’t tolerate’’ division and ‘‘denied me the opportunity to speak’’ . ‘‘[Former Labor prime minister and ACTU president] Bob Hawke would be turning in his grave – he was a supporter of Israel, ’’ he said. ‘‘There was no debate about anything at this congress. There was no ‘for or against’ about anything. All it was was a celebration of Sally ’s leadership and the leadership of all the unions because no one was criticised for anything. ’’
But Mr Lapidos, who is Jewish, said he ‘‘felt sick’’ when during an anti-racism session, delegates at the congress started chanting ‘‘free, free Palestine, from the river to the sea’’ , a phrase he argues implies the destruction of Israel. While acknowledging some may be ignorant of that meaning, he complained that Ms O’Neil failed to call out the chant – started by an Australian Education Union official – despite previously urging delegates to be respectful.
The ACTU’s international policy, voted up in one motion at congress with 230 pages of other policies, calls for ‘‘unimpeded access of humanitarian aid into Palestine corridors to allow humanitarian aid into Palestine’’ . It also calls on ‘‘the Australian government to exercise all avenues of influence and pressure and diplomacy to stop the bombing and ground assault by Israel into Gaza and work for an immediate and lasting ceasefire’’ .
Mr Lapidos’ alternate policy, seconded by Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association Newcastle secretary David Bliss, proposed adding support for ‘‘immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza’’ and ‘‘a Palestinian state to recognise trade union and human rights, respect for women and the rights of LGBTQIA communities’’ . It also called for ‘‘no place for Hamas in the future governance of Palestine’’ and ‘‘the permanent renunciation by all Palestinian factions of the use of terrorism’’ .
Mr Lapidos argued his ‘‘balanced’’ proposal was consistent with Labor government policy and he was prepared to limit the amendment to just hostages and Palestinian state issues to make it acceptable for all unions. ‘‘What the ACTU policy does is encourage Hamas – there’s no other way of describing it, ’’ he said. ‘‘Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran could not have asked for any more from the ACTU because it puts no pressure on them at all. It doesn’t criticise them. ’’
It is understood that Ms McManus wanted to focus the congress on issues directly relevant to workers and unions. An ACTU spokesman said that ‘‘all ACTU policies have been under review and debate over the last six months and these amended policies were unanimously supported by the congress’’. Workplace correspondent.
