Motion Passed: Building an international anti-war movement

Passed at committee meeting on 17/09/206

Proposed by: Nathan Street

Seconded by: Mia Smith 

This branch notes: 

  1. UoB Unison was one of 118 UK trade union branches and trades councils and hundreds of international trade union branches that supported the International Conference Against War in London on 20 June. 
  2. 3,000 trade unionists and activists from at least 27 countries attended the conference 
  3. The conference adopted a statement which sets out the basis for an international movement against war and militarism and agreed three international days of action: on 10 October for Palestine, on 21/22 November against militarism and conscription, and in support of an international day of action by dockworkers against war in October (date to be confirmed) 

This branch believes: 

  1. That European governments including our own are continuing to facilitate Israel’s genocide, are continuing to fuel conflict in Ukraine, are complicit in Trump’s wars, and are leading a drive towards mass rearmament and remilitarisation. 
  2. To fund this rampant militarism, European governments are preparing widespread cuts to welfare and investment in public services which will further impoverish working-class people already bearing the brunt of a deepening cost-of-living crisis. 
  3. The nationalism and Islamophobia generated by this foreign policy are driving the growth of the far right in Britain and across the continent. 
  4. An internationally-coordinated anti-war movement led by trade unions is an urgent necessity to resist the drive to war, the attacks on working people and the growth of the far right. 
  5. That the International Conference Against War was a big step towards building such a movement.  

This branch resolves: 

  1. To support the statement adopted by the International Conference Against War. 
  2. To build the international days of action in October and November including by assisting in the production and circulation of material advertising the days of action using the conference logo. 
  3. To build the international days of action and future anti-war conferences in the wider trade union movement. 
  4. To support students at UoB organising against conscription at welcome fair on September 18th  
  5. To affiliate to the Stop the War Coalition for £50 each year.