SC Passes New Resolution : AFT, Divest! 

June 10th, 2024

At the March GMM, members passed a resolution demanding GEO taking a more active position against Israel's genocide in Gaza. This week, we took another step towards that goal: after weeks organizing with other AFT locals around the country, our AFT delegation helped author a resolution calling on our parent union to divest from $150k in Israeli bonds. This week, our delegates submitted it to the GEO Steering Committee for ratification, where it passed unanimously. The next step will be fighting for the resolution at next month's AFT convention - stay tuned for updates! Read the full resolution: 

Whereas, over 35,500 Palestinians have been killed since October 7th, 2023;

Whereas, civilians are disproportionately and overwhelmingly represented among Palestinian deaths, particularly Palestinian children who total almost half of all Palestinian deaths;

Whereas, The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions has issued an urgent global call to action, calling on unions everywhere to end funding to Israel;

Whereas, Labor’s condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza created by Israel and subsequent calls for ceasefire includes over 200 locals from UAW, SEIU, AAUP, United Steelworkers, Teamsters, UNITE HERE, AFL-CIO, HELU, IWW, NEA, and many more; 

Whereas, All 12 universities that were operating in 2023 in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, 80% of schools in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged since October 2023, and at least 625,000 children currently have no access to education due to the scholasticide in Gaza;

Whereas, more than 480 healthcare workers have been killed since October 2023, only 10 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are “somewhat functional”, only 20 out of 80 of the primary healthcare centers in Gaza are still operational, and north of Wadi Gaza, 75% of hospitals and 100% of primary healthcare centers are non-functional;

Whereas, as educators and healthcare workers, we condemn the destruction of schools and healthcare facilities in any and every part of the world;

Whereas, The AFT holds only one bond of a foreign government, which is the State of Israel, a country internationally accused of committing war crimes, including genocide; and

Whereas, The AFT’s State of Israel bond, which helps fund Israel’s scholasticide and genocide, and pays for Israel’s longstanding occupation of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the apartheid regime inside its borders,,, is valued at $150,000; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the AFT will redeem its State of Israel bond and shall purchase no further bonds from foreign governments.