Trade Unions, Activists Blockade BAE Systems Factory in Coordinated Protests Across UK, Europe

New Delhi: In a bold and coordinated effort, pro-Palestinian activists have initiated a blockade at the BAE Systems factory in Govan, Glasgow, joined by simultaneous protests at three other arms factories in Bournemouth, Lancashire, and Brighton. Over 1,000 workers and trade unionists, operating under the banner "Workers for a Free Palestine," are demanding an end to arms manufacturing for Israel and advocating for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

According to a report published in Euronews,  the demonstration, organised in collaboration with Workers For A Free Palestine, seeks to compel BAE Systems to sever all connections with Israel, including the trade of weapons, defence, and supplies. The activists are not only pressuring the defence giant but are also calling on the UK government to endorse a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and put an end to the occupation of Palestine.

A spokesperson from Workers for a Free Palestine addressed the media, stating, "Through our actions, which are shared today with Workers for a Free Palestine in England and other worker groups across Europe, we are speaking directly to workers to say - you don't have to take part in the chain of killing."

The protest extends beyond the factory gates, with demonstrators calling for workers to engage with their unions and refuse to work on projects linked to Israeli actions in Gaza.
 
Concerns have been raised about the financial support from Scottish Enterprise, with nearly £10 million granted to arms firms supplying weapons to Israel between 2016 and 2020, including £1.6 million to BAE Systems. Protesters argue that public funds should be invested in "caring, not killing."

Harsha, a 35-year-old carer among the activists, expressed her dismay, stating, "It’s not right that BAE Systems profit from the genocide in Gaza." Meanwhile, Scott, a 26-year-old youth worker, emphasised, "We are not here to shame or blame workers at BAE. The company’s management decides what to produce and who to sell to – it is them we hold accountable for being part of the chain of killing.”

BAE Systems, a major defence contractor, produces crucial components for weapons sold to Israel, including the F35 combat aircraft and the MK 38 Mod 2 machine gun system. The company's involvement in the construction of HMS Diamond, deployed to the Persian Gulf in November, has fueled the activists' concerns. Additionally, armour for the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigates was sourced from the Israeli defence company Plasan.

The protest comes amidst revelations about Scottish Enterprise's financial support to arms firms and ongoing legal challenges against the UK government's arms exports to Israel during the Gaza-Israel war.

Responding to the protests, BAE Systems stated that it respects "everyone's right to protest peacefully" and affirmed its intention to increase its Scottish workforce by adding 300 more apprentices and graduates in 2024.

The coordinated actions, not confined to the UK, have seen simultaneous protests in France, Denmark, and the Netherlands, responding to a call by Palestinian trade unionists to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel.

As the demonstrations gained momentum, Workers in Palestine, a coalition of Palestinian trade unions, issued a statement, saluting the global trade union movement, taking a stand against Israel's actions. The statement reads, "Shutting down four factories across the UK today, along with several simultaneous blockades in Europe, are critical acts of solidarity – refusing to conduct business as usual in the face of Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza and ongoing genocide."