Unions tell the Biden administration to stop sending military aid to Israel

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/us/politics/union-biden-letter-israel-gaza.html

free link: https://archive.ph/TaaGP

A group of unions representing millions of workers sent a letter on Tuesday to the White House demanding a cease-fire in the war in Gaza and that United States stop sending military aid to Israel.

(snip)

Unions, though historically associated with the left, have politically diverse membership and have been courted by both Mr. Biden, who dropped out the race on Sunday, and the Republicans’ presidential nominee, former President Donald J. Trump. Given their membership, the union letter is a strong statement from a key electorate that the administration needs to update its Mideast foreign policy, a policy that Vice President Kamala Harris, who was endorsed by Mr. Biden and several top Democrats to become the Democrats’ nominee, will also have to speak for.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, the letter noted, and argued that unless the U.S. changes course, “the Israeli government will continue to pursue its vicious response to the horrific attacks of October 7th until it is forced to stop.”

The American Postal Workers Union, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, the National Education Association, Service Employees International Union, United Auto Workers and United Electrical Workers signed onto the letter.

Flight Attendants signed too; not sure why they're not mentioned in the article.

[edisdead]

1. Can anyone answer what type of military aid we send?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Here's some info.

https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts

Most of the aid—approximately $3.3 billion a year—is provided as grants under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, funds that Israel must use to purchase U.S. military equipment and services. In October, the Joe Biden administration said Israel had nearly six hundred active FMF cases, totalling around $24 billion. Israel has also historically been permitted to use a portion of its FMF aid to buy equipment from Israeli defense firms—a benefit not granted to other recipients of U.S. military aid—but this domestic procurement is to be phased out in the next few years. U.S. aid reportedly accounts for some 15 percent of Israel’s defense budget. Israel, like many other countries, also buys U.S. military products outside of the FMF program.

Additionally, $500 million a year is slated for Israeli and joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs, in which the two countries collaborate on the research, development, and production of these systems used by Israel, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow II. Iron Dome was solely developed by Israel, but the United States has been a production partner since 2014. For instance, the U.S. military contractor Raytheon manufactures Tamir interceptor missiles for Israel’s Iron Dome at its facilities in Arizona.

(snip)

In May, the administration issued a follow-up report [PDF] that found it “reasonable to assess” that Israel has used U.S. weapons since October 7 “in instances inconsistent with its IHL [International Humanitarian Law] obligations.” Days later, the White House said it was pausing a shipment of large bombs to Israel ahead of a pending assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, although it noted it would continue other military assistance. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which [Israel goes] after population centers,” President Biden said in an interview with CNN.

More specifically: laser-guided missiles, artillery shells, 500- and 2,000-pound bombs, vehicles, etc.

[SunSeeker]

3. Biden is very close to a ceasefire deal. And we cannot stop all military aid to Israel.

It would embolden Iran. And revive Hamas.

Bad idea.

Unions should concentrate their limited resources and political capital on doing what workers are paying them to do: increase wages and improve benefits/working conditions for their members.

[Beastly Boy]

4. A union's primary job is to protect its members and to increase their ranks.

Political considerations are secondary in comparison. When they become the news-making front and center, I don't see how it favors the rank and file.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. The movement contains multitudes and locals, district councils, nationals and international all have different ideas

about the kinds of work and influence a committed group of people might be able to do.

Political considerations are secondary in comparison. When they become the news-making front and center, I don't see how it favors the rank and file.

Sure, which is why politicians chase and tout union endorsements.

[Beastly Boy]

7. My point exactly.

You don't build cohesion and solidarity among the multitudes of people committed to defend their rights by endorsing narrowly focused political sentiments.

And this is why politicians chase and their political endorsements: the solidarity of the rank and file to vote for an endorsed candidate on begalf of thir union is unique in getting the voters who would be out of reach otherwise.

Make a narrowly-focused political stand, and you risk destroying the only thing going for the unions - solidarity despite diversity.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. These aren't executive-board-level top-down decisions, though. Like endorsements, they come up from the rank and file.

the solidarity of the rank and file to vote for an endorsed candidate on begalf of thir union is unique in getting the voters who would be out of reach otherwise.

It's much, much more about the money and GOTV efforts than member votes.

[Beastly Boy]

11. What decisions are you referring to?

Build cohesion and solidarity?

That is precisely what a union executive board is tasked with. They are also tasked with announcing endorsements of politicians based on how those politicians may benefit the rank and file. Rank and file are not expected to do the extensive research necessary to make this determination. But union leaders don't base their endorsements on what political sentiments prevail among rank and file at any given moment. That would be detrimental to the cohesion and solidarity within the union.

[MichMan]

6. Aren't many of the workers building military equipment unionized?

Wonder if they approve.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. Some are UAW (which signed the letter), some are IAM and others (which didn't).

ETA: About 40 percent of all members are in the unions mentioned.