Italian dockworkers have threatened to “shut down all of Europe” and block all shipments to Israel if communication with the latest aid flotilla bound for Gaza is lost. The threat marks a significant escalation in dockworkers’ long history of industrial action in solidarity with Palestine.
Speaking at a procession in the port of Genoa – one of Italy’s two largest commercial ports – on behalf of the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), a syndicate of various grassroots unions in Italy and thought to be the largest of its kind, the dockworker said: “If we lose contact with our boats, with our comrades – even for just 20 minutes – we will shut down all of Europe.”
“Our young women and men must come back without a scratch, and all this cargo, which belongs to the people and is going to the people, must reach its destination, down to the very last box.”
“13,000-14,000 containers leave this region every year for Israel. Not a single nail will leave anymore,” he continued.
hope that there isn’t already a plan b somewhere in greece or albania.
A strike won’t quite cut it. They’ll have to physically block ports and then other significant ports must do the same.
At which point the army will be deployed to get them out of the way and/or navy to clear the ports.
Unless there’s violence after that, Israel still wins
Italy allows the army to be deployed against it’s own citizens? Seems like a weird overlook by an ex-fascist country
Every country does. As far as I know there is not a single country that explicitly bans use of the military for civil unrest/rebellion. It might be stated to be the last resort but it’s definitely still on the table. And even if it’s banned on paper there’s no way they just wouldn’t do it when pushed hard enough. The purpose of the military is to maintain the regime, from both external and internal forces.
UK actually did it in living memory for a lot of people too. They didn’t exactly win either.
Great chance to learn something new! Sweden has a law forbidding military use against civilians.
I just assumed that at least the losers of the second world war would have laws severely prohibiting military uses.
Anyway, in states with rule of law it’s not just ‘paper’. Change or abolish laws yes, ignoring them no. And the purpose of the military can be debated. I’d say their purpose is to uphold the constitution and protect both citizens and state.
Italy has been cracking down on the right to protest for decades, regardless of the government’s political affiliation.
Ex fascist, currently capitalist.
There’s a lot of overlap there.
If they attack us we fight back, simple as that
The working class is kept poor deliberately, so that the fear of losing your job keeps you in line, or else you go hungry.
Not everyone is ready to fight to the detriment of their own family’s income for Gaza and that’s understandable, it’s not the people’s fault but the fault of the rich that are getting richer with each bomb dropped.
Thats exactly what should bring the workers out inro the streets, every bomb the capitalist laughs as our children die of starvation. Soon we wont have a planet to live in. Remember without us the capitalist has nothing but without the capitalist the worker has everything.
we can’t even get people to stop voting for the ruling’s classes’ red or blue candidates; there’s much less chance that people will even recognize this.
All the people need is a push in the right direction, someone to get the ball rolling, and the people will fall behind the revolution.
I wish we could get that idea anchored in the people who are still scared.
The fear never disappears, I myself am still have a lot of fear. However the hope of a better tomorrow guides me as does the fear of the alternative.
I’m right there with you, my friend!