Pro-Palestine HSU members in small, ‘hard to fathom’ protest
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Published May 6, 2024
The Daily Telegraph, 6 May 2024
About 20 pro-Palestine HSU union members and supporters have gathered to protest a meeting between Health Services Union boss Gerard Hayes and Israeli ambassador to Australia.
Pro-Palestine union members and supporters have railed against a meeting scheduled between Health Services Union boss Gerard Hayes and Israeli ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, despite the union leader saying the meeting was about urging Israel to be more focused on preventing civilian deaths in the Gaza conflict.
Mr Hayes said it was “hard to fathom” why members would protest the meeting.
Organiser and HSU member Gabi Martinez claimed the action in Gaza was a “repeat of the Holocaust” and said members were angry they hadn’t been consulted about Mr Hayes’ meeting.
“We’re here for our colleagues in Gaza who can’t speak because they’ve been killed,” she said.
“I think we’re all horrified ….it’s like in the Holocaust, good people did nothing, this is a repeat of the Holocaust. That’s why we’re speaking up.”
When told of Mr Hayes’ reasons for meeting with the ambassador, she said members were angry they hadn’t been consulted first.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it — there was no consultation with members,” she said.
Chanting “long live the Intifada” — an Arabic term meaning uprising — and “Gerard Hayes you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide”, about 20 protesters — and roughly half that number in police — picketed the front of the Health Services Union base on Pitt Street in the Sydney CBD, with members holding a banner reading ‘unionists for Palestine’.
“We have a lot of members of Palestinian background, particularly in south west Sydney,” Ms Martinez said.
‘TRIGGERING’
“This is very triggering for us.”
“These are our colleagues in Gaza who are working. I don’t understand why there is a meeting with the Israeli ambassador without discussing it with us first.”
“Elected leadership should reflect the membership, but that’s not always the case, when we don’t have those discussions with leadership on issues (like this).
Mr Hayes told The Telegraph a recent survey of 2000 HSU members had revealed 99 per cent wanted union leadership to focus on pay and working conditions.
Just 38 respondents wanted them to focus on international issues.
In a statement, Mr Hayes said the union didn’t want to take a side and supported a two-state solution.
“The HSU is deeply concerned by the loss of life currently occurring in the Middle East. We condemn the savage Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7,” he said.
“We also firmly believe Israel should be more focused on preventing civilian casualties. This is a complex, deeply traumatic conflict that stretches back decades.
“Rather than taking sides we will continue to stand for a two state solution that recognises Israel’s right to exist alongside the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“It’s hard to fathom why people would protest a meeting where we will convey these sentiments to the Israeli Ambassador.”
In the last year the union has secured a 28 per cent pay rise for ambulance workers, as well as a 7.5 per cent pay rise for health workers and security.