Major Unions Are Calling for an End to Israeli Military Aid

Ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, seven unions — whose members constitute almost half of all American union members — have demanded an end to US military aid to Israel. The labor movement’s calls to end the genocide in Gaza are growing.

President Shawn Fain of the United Auto Workers, which just joined six other major US labor unions in calling for an end to US military aid to Israel. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)


A coalition of unions representing nearly half of all union members in the United States sent a letter this week urging President Joe Biden to halt all US military aid to Israel. The letter, sent ahead of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US today, urges Biden to stop arming Israel “as part of the work to secure an immediate and permanent cease-fire in the war in Gaza.”

Seven unions signed onto the missive: the Association of Flight Attendants–Communications Workers of America (AFA-CWA), the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the National Education Association (NEA), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (UE). Taken together, the signatories comprise some six million workers.

“Our unions are hearing the cries of humanity as this vicious war continues,” said APWU president Mark Dimondstein in a press release. “Working people and our unions are horrified that our tax dollars are financing this ongoing tragedy. We need a ceasefire now, and the best way to secure that is to shut off US military aid to Israel.”

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