SEIU 721 for Palestine: members call for leadership support to end the genocide
SEIU 721 President David Green and SEIU 721 Leadership
As rank & file members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721, we understand the power of collective worker action to confront and dismantle oppression. We are deeply troubled by the ongoing attacks and siege on the Palestinian people, as well as attacks on people supporting Palestinian liberation, all enabled by our government and tax dollars.
As the largest public sector union in Southern California, our labor keeps our society running. We have the opportunity and responsibility to leverage our collective power and push for an end to the genocide in Palestine.
Our fellow union workers in Palestine are calling upon us as organized workers to support their struggle against genocide and apartheid - we heed their call, and ask our union to adopt the following:
- Join the growing call from unions across the world to stop the genocide of Palestinians.
- Call for an end to the siege on Gaza and the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
- Pressure President Trump to end military assistance to Israel.
- Publicly declare support for the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.
- Commit to no retaliation against staff or members who support Palestinian liberation.
Read on for the full letter to SEIU 721 leadership. Then...
✍️ SIGN ON TO JOIN FELLOW SEIU 721 MEMBERS IN CALLING ON OUR LEADERSHIP TO LISTEN TO WORKERS & STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
Petition by
To:
SEIU 721 President David Green and SEIU 721 Leadership
From:
[Your Name]
[Petition text last updated 4-29-25. Signatures will be updated periodically]
Dear Mr. Green,
SEIU 721 union members are joining SEIU 1021, and 1199 with the following
demands:
1. Stopping the genocide of Palestinians: Join the growing calls from unions
and workers across the globe in a public statement demanding that Israel
immediately end its armed offensive against the Palestinian people.
2. Ending the siege on Gaza: We echo the call made by our siblings in the
labor movement for water, fuel, food, and other humanitarian aid to be allowed
into Gaza, and electricity to be restored.
3. Refusing to further arm Israel: Pressure Biden, SEIU’s endorsed presidential
candidate, to end military funding & assistance to Israel and pressure Israel to
end its genocide in Gaza.
4. Publicly declaring support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)
movement initiated by Palestinian trade unions. Specifically, the
students/faculty of Occidental College, USD and LMU who are fellow 721
members, have engaged in encampments & protests of their college or university
investing in businesses that support Israel's genocidal campaign. SEIU 721
must support and protect their members through a public statement and
actions against retaliation.
5. Not retaliating against staff or members for supporting Palestinian liberation:
Protect all workers from retaliation for expressing and acting on their
commitment, aligned with SEIU values, to lead the way to a more just and
equitable world by calling for an end to another colonial occupation and
apartheid system.
We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all attacks on innocent civilian
lives. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages
taken, including the Palestinians taken and imprisoned by the Israeli
Occupation Forces.
As rank and file members in service of our communities, we are deeply
troubled by the worsening conditions in Gaza. Food, water, and medicine are
urgently needed to save the lives of Palestinian civilians who are currently
being denied these basic needs. We reject the notion that Israel’s attacks on
hospitals filled with patients, apartment blocks filled with families, and the
deaths of 35,000+ people, with 25,000+ being Palestinian women and
children, are acceptable collateral damage. We demand an immediate
ceasefire, as a minimum; and complete liberation of all Palestinians from
occupation.
As rank and file members in service of our communities, we are deeply
troubled by the worsening conditions in Gaza. Food, water, and medicine are
urgently needed to save the lives of Palestinian civilians who are currently
being denied these basic needs. We reject the notion that Israel’s attacks on
hospitals filled with patients, apartment blocks filled with families, refugee camps, and the deaths of 62,000+ people, with 17,000+ being Palestinian
children, are acceptable collateral damage. We demand an immediate lasting
ceasefire, as a minimum; and complete liberation of all Palestinians from
occupation.
These war crimes are being enabled by the U.S government by providing
Israel with over 3 billion dollars of funding every year. Joe Biden, SEIU’s endorsed candidate in the 2024 election, allocated an additional 26 billion dollars of funding for Israel to support this
genocidal campaign. Meanwhile, the working-class in the US suffers from
rising cost of living, suffocating debt crises and stagnant wages. Our taxpayer
dollars should instead be allocated to fund healthcare, public education, and
other social services that meet the needs of workers and the communities we
serve as SEIU Members.
International humanitarian law and the laws of war must be upheld without
exception, which include the inviolability of healthcare facilities, schools and
journalists. Nothing can justify the war crimes and breaches of the Geneva
Conventions committed by Israel against Palestinians.
The world community and all parties involved must commit to a permanent
ceasefire, demand that the U.S. government end its funding of Israel, boycott,
divest, and sanction Israel, and protect SEIU members and staff from
retaliation.
Signed,
SEIU 721 Members