BDS WIN: workers call for action!

In a historic vote today at the Trade Union Congress 2026, hundreds of delegates voted unanimously to officially endorse the Palestinian led movement for boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS) for the first time.

Now we must escalate our campaigns for Palestine in our workplaces. Join the workplace day of action on Thursday 26 November. 

Representing over 5 million workers, from teachers to firefighters, artists to tech workers, doctors to cleaners, representatives voted to answer the call of Palestinian trade unions and civil society organisations and to support BDS measures against Israel, as it continues to commit the crimes of genocide, apartheid and occupation. 

In a direct challenge to Ed Miliband’s announcement last week when he stated he ‘whole-heartedly opposes the BDS movement’ trade unions have shown that workers across the country will continue to stand with the Palestinian people and demand meaningful action be taken to end British complicity with Israel. 

The TUC also voted to support the next workplace and student day of action, which has been called for Thursday 26th November.

This day of action, supported by the TUC, is part of a global call for workers led by Palestinian trade unions, calling on the international community to escalate their support for Palestinian liberation by organising, joining and amplifying actions, including in the workplace. In universities, students will be standing with staff and taking action to end the shameful complicity of their institutions. 

Join thousands of workers around the world in organising an action in your workplace, union or community.

In response to the vote, Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the BDS movementhas said: 

“This mass movement of solidarity with the people of Palestine, led by PSC with many trades unions affiliated to it, is the reason why your government was compelled to adopt minor measures in the right direction to end its complicity. But it’s way short of UK’s legal obligations to end complicity in genocide, in apartheid, in illegal occupation. 

So we must work further to grow our BDS movement, to grow intersectional coalition building, so that we have massive people power to really make the government end its complicity by cutting all military, security, intelligence ties with Israel that enable its crimes against Palestinians; by ending preferential trade agreements, academic, cultural, sports agreements that enable Israeli apartheid and genocide. And we can achieve that, we know we can, because we are building massive power across the UK thanks to PSC and thanks to all the unions that have brought us to this point.”

In solidarity, 

Jess

PSC Trade Union Officer