Swedish Dockworkers Vote to Block Military Shipments to and from Israel

[Omaha Steve]

The Swedish Dockworkers Union is known for militant action, and has a long history of extending international solidarity. Photo: SDU

https://labornotes.org/blogs/2025/01/swedish-dockworkers-vote-block-military-shipments-and-israel

January 14, 2025 / Katy Fox-Hodess and Rafeef Ziadah

In a resounding display of international solidarity, members of the Swedish Dockworkers Union (SDU) voted by 68 percent in December to block the handling of military shipments to and from Israel.

The Swedish government continues to trade arms with Israel. Exports are relatively small, totaling $4.5 million in 2023, but imports are much more significant: the Swedish defence forces have signed contracts to import more than $200 million in arms from Israel, including from two of Israel’s largest arms companies, Elbit and Rafael—both implicated in supplying weaponry used in Gaza.

So dockworkers are stepping in where elected officials have failed to uphold human rights.

The blockade is also a call to action for workers worldwide. The SDU has a long history of putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to international solidarity. In the 1970s, the Swedish dockworkers were the first to refuse to handle cargo from Chile after the coup d’etat. They were also the first in Sweden to boycott South African cargo in solidarity with the anti-apartheid movement.

FULL story at link above.

[babylonsister]

1. Walking the walk-

I'm very impressed. And international solidarity...what a concept!