South African wharfies to ban Israeli ship

4 February 2009

By MUA news -

Durban dock workers banned shipments of Chinese weapons to Zimbabwe last year, now they are set to ban Israeli shipments to protest the bloodshed in Gaza

Durban dock workers are expected to refuse to off-load an Israeli ship as part of a week of action against "apartheid" Israel, the South Africa Sunday Tribune reports.

The proposed ban was announced by the Cosatu and the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) yesterday, the Tribute reported.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven and PSC spokesperson Salim Vally told Tribune dock workers would refuse to off-load the ship arriving on Sunday, February 8, as part of a refusal to support oppression and exploitation across the globe.

SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) general secretary Randall Howard said the union's members were committed to not handling Israeli goods.

Last year, Durban dock workers refused to off-load a shipment of arms from China that was destined for Zimbabwe.

(see "boycott" http://www.mua.org.au/journal/julaug_2008/satawu.html

"This is the legacy and the tradition that South African dock workers have inherited, and it is a legacy they are determined to honour, by ensuring that South African ports of entry will not be used as transit points for goods bound for or emanating from certain dictatorial and oppressive states such as Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Israel."

Cosatu called on other workers and unions across the globe to follow suit and to do all that is necessary to ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel until Palestine was free.

The protest would be addressed by Satawu general secretary Randall Howard and former Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, Craven said.

The rally on Friday would be addressed by Vally, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, South African Council of Churches general secretary Eddie Makue and Kasrils.

A protest at Durban harbour and a rally in Cape Town were planned for Sunday February 8, Craven said. - Sapa

Meanwhile Western Australian members of the Maritime Union of Australia have announced they support sanctions and other actions against Israel, and the Sydney MUA branch officials ahve signed a petition condemning the slaughter which was recently published in the Sydney Morning Herald. Other names on the petition include actor Judy Davis, writer John Pilger, cartoonist Bruce Petty, actor Colin Friels and novelist Tom Keneally.



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