Last week’s Democratic National Convention surfaced differences over the war in Gaza that could widen fissures between labor activists and union officials.The New York Times reports that last week’s Democratic National Convention highlighted differences over the war in Gaza, which could further divide labor activists and union officials. The presence of members from the Chicago Teachers Union at the convention brought to light two main frustrations. The first was the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which they believe is draining resources that could be used to support students and causing unnecessary loss of life. The second was disappointment with their parent union, the American Federation of Teachers, for not taking a stronger stance against Israel’s military actions.

Kirstin Roberts, a preschool teacher who participated in the protest, expressed her disappointment with the parent union’s recent resolution on Israel and Palestine, which did not call for an end to armed shipments. Many rank-and-file union members have been vocal in their criticism of Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks, while national union leaders have been more cautious, acknowledging the role of Hamas in the conflict.

The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, explained that the union was careful in crafting their resolution, considering both the moral implications and the potential consequences of their words. This divide over Israel and Gaza is not unique to the labor movement, as similar tensions exist in other institutions such as academia, the media, and government. 

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