BDS FAIL: Union workers suspended for siding with activists and refusing to unload Israeli ship

The Dubai Ports World (DP World) penalized 94 port workers with a multi-day suspension after they refused to unload the Israeli ZIM Volans ship during a Block the Boat protest in Prince Rupert, BC in June.

The ship, owned by Israeli shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., was forced to leave the port in Oakland, California, in May after ILWU local 10 members supported pro-Palestinian activists and refused to cross the picket line. The Israeli container ship was unloaded at the port in Prince Rupert despite the efforts of anti-Israel activists.

Many of the activists in British Columbia were still convinced their efforts had succeeded 24 hours after the ship was unloaded. Social media accounts promoting the #blocktheboat campaign continued claiming success despite the failure of the activists.

According to the Quds News Network, DP World, manages 78 operating terminals in over 40 countries, several of which are in Canada. Last year, DoverTower, an Israeli company, and DP World signed multiple cooperation deals including a joint bid on the privatization of the Port in Haifa.

The suspension was originally supposed to be a four-day unpaid suspension for the 94 International Longshore and Warehouse Workers Union Local 505 members, and was reduced to one day unpaid, according to a letter to the union president from DP World stated on June 23. However, the one-day suspension without pay will remain in their employment files.

Ian Robinson manager of yard and gate for DP World stated in the letter addressed to Jimmy Andriff, Local 505 president, "After reviewing the circumstances of June 15 and 16, DP World Prince Rupert and ILWU Local 505 have agreed on a without prejudice or precedent basis to mitigate the discipline imposed on the 94 employees and reduce the suspension from three days to one for failing to show to work …"

According to The Northern View, workers were suspended on June 21 for refusing to cross a picket line on June 15 and 16, which was organized by activists protesting the Israeli ship’s presence in the port. After failing to accomplish their objective, activists wrote a letter laced with antisemitic tropes to Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, demanding that Israeli ships be denied docking in the country.

The activists had responded to a call from labor unions in the West Bank and Gaza, and joined with extremist groups in a call to action by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC).

Groups like the AROC who are working to stop the ship are part of the antisemitic Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement which is committed to stopping the production, sale and transportation of goods from the Jewish state.

ZIM is a member of the 2M Alliance, one of the world’s largest shipping organizations. The company transports products from many different countries all over the globe.

BDS efforts have been shown repeatedly to have little, to no effect on Israel but rather, adversely affects retailers in other countries that are attempting to sell the products, as well as Palestinians who work for Israeli companies.

Workers told The Northern View, that "...none of the 94 workers should have any discipline as they were told by management that there would be no repercussions if workers felt uncomfortable crossing the line."

A similar anti-Israel protest, led by antisemitic Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, ended in multiple arrests on June 18 after activists failed to prevent another ZIM cargo ship from offloading medical supplies and more in Seattle.

For almost two weeks, the ZIM San Diego, had been unable to unload it's cargo after Antifa-backed, anti-Israel groups similarly threatened to block the ship from unloading.

The protests caused multiple cargo ships from various shipping companies and countries to be backed up for unloading in Seattle Harbor.