A community picket organised by Trade Unionists for Palestine began on January 19 and has so far held strong for more than 24 hours. Activists are planning an overnight rosters and planning a strong presence at 6am for the change of shift as at the evening of January 20.
Supporting the picket, Free Palestine Melbourne said in a Facebook post “the genocide that Israel is committing against the Palestinians won’t stop while the Zionist state’s international political, economic and military ties are maintained”.
“We must uphold the Palestinian civil society call to blockade Israeli shipping to end the genocide. We cannot wait upon the Australian Government to uphold international law given it is firm in its alliance with Israel.”
Former Geelong Trades Hall secretary Tim Gooden explained to Green Left that “Unionists for Palestine have come down here today and have organised to stop the workers from doing the shift change if they can and to stop the ship from being unloaded”.
Behind me there is a picket line on Webb Dock for an Israeli ship that has pulled up at the dock and Unionists for Palestine have come down here today and have organised to stop the workers from doing the shift change if they can and to stop the ship from being unloaded”.
The picket is at the Victorian International Container Terminal at the Empress Drive Gate.