Dockworkers Against Russia’s and Israel’s Wars
In Sweden, workers boycotted Russian ships in response to the invasion of Ukraine, and then did the same for Israel’s arms trade. Their action shows the power of working-class solidarity against militarism.
In Sweden, dockworkers boycotted shipping from both Israel and Russia. A trade unionist involved in the actions told Jacobin why workers acted, and why bosses responded with union-busting. (Camille Bas-Wohlert / AFP via Getty Images)
Ahead of May Day 2022, two months after Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, Ukrainian trade unionists called for solidarity with the invaded country. Artem Tidva, a Ukrainian left-winger and labor activist, addressed international unions calling for actions to help stop the Russian war machine.
In Sweden, such action was already underway. In March 2022, Swedish dockers had begun a blockade of Russian ships. This decision, supported by a nationwide vote among the Swedish Dockworkers’ Union’s approximately one thousand members, highlighted the complicity of global capitalist mechanisms in facilitating Russia’s evasion of sanctions. Yet it also met with resistance from both employers and politicians, and the union faced practical problems in identifying ships belonging to Russia.
Yet despite legal challenges, including two lawsuits, Swedish dockers continued their solidarity effort. These efforts earned support in wider society, not least thanks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioning the action in a speech.
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