As is traditional the GMB debated international solidarity on Thursday morning although since a GMB workplace in Northern Ireland had been attacked, a delegate from that Region addressed Congress. He is followed by an address from Tariq Pollard, from the Teamsters in NY an organiser in Amazon and his full time officer, Antonio Rosario. The organisation in Amazon grows.
The CEC chose to present a special report on International Solidarity to Congress. The paper was moved by Barbara Plant. Special report debates are longer than others because each region gets to speak. The report covered trade and the EU, middle east again, and international solidarity mainly Latin America but also including Ukraine.
After the debate on the special report, Congress was addressed by video by the Palestinian Ambassador, Dr. Husam Zomlot who thanked us for our solidarity and promised that with our help Palestinian voices will not be silenced. See also the 2024 statement on the Middle East.
We also heard, by video from the Deputy PM of Spain, Yolanda Diaz, who holds the Minister of Labour and Social Economy portfolio, and presented a beacon of hope from one of the few social democratic governments in the world. Even though their confrontation with the far right is more acute and still massively socially divisive the Spanish government is pursuing policies of humanity, anti-poverty and anti-racism.
The video links in this article are the start points of each section I describe.
This article has been back dated to approximately the date of occurrence.
Image Credit: By Nick Fewings from unsplash using the unsplash licence.