UAW backs Israel-Hamas cease-fire, largest union to do so

The United Auto Workers (UAW) endorsed a long-term cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war Friday, becoming the largest union in the U.S. to do so. 

“UAW International is calling for an immediate, permanent cease-fire in Israel and Palestine so that we can get to the work of building a lasting peace, building social justice, and building a community of global community of solidarity,” UAW regional director Brandon Mancilla said Friday in front of the White House, alongside protesters on a hunger strike.

The American Postal Workers Union, UE union and a multitude of smaller labor organizations have already backed a cease-fire, an effort that has divided Democrats and put pressure on the Biden administration.

A weeklong pause in fighting ended early Friday after about 100 Hamas-held hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners were released in a tenuously kept deal.

A growing chorus of Democrats have called on the Biden administration to push for a long-term cease-fire in the conflict, citing increasing civilian casualties in Gaza. However, both the administration and the Israeli government have so far refused.

The conflict, now nearly two months old, has resulted in the deaths of more than 13,300 Palestinians, including over 4,600 children, as well as about 1,200 Israelis.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans also support a cease-fire in the conflict, according to polling released Thursday.

Mancilla argued the UAW has an obligation to its members to advocate for all oppressed people, not just autoworkers.

“[A cease-fire] is as important as anything else that we’re doing in this country in order to ensure that workers and oppressed people and more people across the world are on the path to winning to justice,” Mancilla said.

“For so long, we’ve been silent and we’ve been ignorant in the labor movement to this issue, and that time is over,” he added.

The action comes after the UAW secured a massive labor deal with the “Big Three” automakers — Ford, General Motors and Jeep-maker Stellantis — following weeks of strikes, receiving significant wage and benefit increases for members. 

The union announced a new initiative this week to unionize an additional 150,000 members at the country’s remaining nonunion auto manufacturers, including Toyota, Mercedes, Tesla and others.

Detroit, the UAW’s strongest base, is home to one of the largest populations of Muslim and Arab Americans in the country, headlined by Dearborn, Mich., home to Ford.

UAW President Shawn Fain celebrated the move Friday in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, saying he is “proud” of the decision.

“From opposing fascism in WWII to mobilizing against apartheid South Africa and the CONTRA war, the UAW has consistently stood for justice across the globe,” he said.