Amazon Union Founder Calls for Worker Action to Halt Support for Israel
NEW YORK – Chris Smalls,the co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union,is urging workers globally to leverage their power to disrupt the flow of materials supporting Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Smalls argues that organized labor has a critical, yet largely untapped, role in challenging what he terms a “genocide” and holding governments and corporations accountable for their complicity.
The call to action comes amid escalating international criticism of Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza and growing debate over the responsibility of nations and businesses that continue to provide support. Smalls’s advocacy highlights a burgeoning intersection between the labor movement and the Palestinian liberation struggle,raising questions about the potential for grassroots organizing to influence foreign policy and corporate practices. This movement seeks to broaden the scope of worker solidarity beyond conventional economic demands to encompass human rights and international justice.
Speaking on the program Upfront with Marc Lamont Hill, Smalls specifically pointed to the potential impact of dockworkers. “If our dock workers did the same as our brothers and sisters overseas, we wouldn’t see a genocide,” he stated, referencing international labor actions that have already begun to disrupt arms shipments to Israel.
Smalls’s activism extends beyond simply calling for disruption. He frames the issue as a basic matter of worker power and ethical responsibility. He believes that unions, historically advocates for the marginalized, have a moral obligation to stand in solidarity with Palestinians facing immense suffering. The Amazon Labor Union’s own fight for better working conditions and recognition has positioned Smalls as a prominent voice for challenging established power structures, a role he now intends to extend to the international arena.
The potential for a coordinated labor response remains uncertain, but Smalls’s advocacy is galvanizing discussion within union circles and among activists seeking new avenues for pressuring Israel and its allies. His message underscores a growing sentiment that economic leverage, wielded by organized labor, can be a powerful tool in the pursuit of peace and justice.
