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To the editor:
Thank you, Ben August, for your moral clarity (“Publisher’s note: On Gaza,” The Chief, Aug. 28). In this dark moment, working New Yorkers — alongside the journalists who keep us informed — must dust off our moral compass and chart a path forward.
On Aug. 26, five journalists, along with health workers, patients and family, were slaughtered on the job in another deliberate bombing of Nasser Hospital in Gaza. I worked there alongside caring professionals in 2019 with Doctors Without Borders, treating victims of the violent, longstanding occupation.
Unionized port workers in New Jersey are currently loading F-35 parts bound for Israel — parts used to bomb hospitals like Nasser. Meanwhile, unionized educators, transit workers, sanitation workers, nurses and other essential workers keep the lights on in this global center of corporate power.
The same corporate and political elite profiting from genocide are also attacking workers: denying safe staffing and livable wages, raising the cost of living, busting unions and retaliating against workers who speak out.
On July 31, Mount Sinai Hospital disgracefully fired my colleague Claire Raizen, a cancer care social worker, for a “Let Gaza Live” postcard on her desk.
Reader, this repression affects you and your family, and is coming to your workplace soon. The struggle for Palestinian liberation is also the struggle against rising tyranny in the workplace.
In Europe, dockworkers are refusing to load arms bound for Israel. Campaigns like Mask Off Maersk and Labor for an Arms Embargo show how rank-and-file workers can build power by acting with conscience.
It’s time The Chief-Leader helped its readers connect the dots. We can rebuild our unions by standing in solidarity with Palestinians and refusing to be complicit in the machinery of genocide. By standing with each other, we can stop this war machine — and revive our power on the job.
Damien Archbold
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Word Man
Can unions have an impact on global warfare?
Unions have been using their anti-war efforts to make a difference in conflicts like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. They disrupt military supply chains, put political pressure on governments, and shape public opinion. However, the extent of their influence depends on the specific conflict, the strength of the unions, and how well they align with global and domestic politics.
Democratic Peace Theory: This theory posits that democracies in states are less likely to engage in war with one another. If democratic values and self-governance were to spread globally, it could increase the likelihood of world peace.
Some optimists believe that technological advancements in military technology could reach a point where the destructive power of war makes large-scale conflicts unthinkable.
While some argue that human nature inherently leads to war, others believe that individuals can learn to control their base impulses and choose solutions over problems.
The question itself gives us a clear path forward. By promoting diplomacy, democratic values, fair resource sharing, and understanding between different cultures, we can pave the way for a more peaceful world. Let’s hope that our rational minds will overcome our hatred and guide us towards a better future.
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