Pensions divestment in solidarity with Palestine

UNISON local government conference passed a motion that commits UNISON to a redoubled pensions divestment campaign to stop the local government pension scheme (LGPS) investing in companies that are complicit with war crimes. 

Kerie Anne introduced the motion on behalf of UNISON Tower Hamlets branch. She said, “showing solidarity with the Palestinian people has never been more urgent. And as the climate emergency ever grows, so does the need for strong action to challenge fossil fuel.”

With assets totalling over £425bn, the local government pension scheme (LGPS) is one of the biggest pension funds in the UK. 

 “This is a massive amount of money and where it’s invested really matters,” said Kerie. “We know that £12.2bn of LGPS assets are invested in companies that either produce weapons and military technology used by Israel and its attacks on Palestinians, or supports their occupation's infrastructure, or is, or are active and illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land. 

“Furthermore, we know that there's £16bn of assets invested in the fossil fuel industry. 

“This is a shocking amount of money invested in war, occupation, genocide, and planet destruction. This money has the huge potential to reshape our environment, society and beyond. For better or for worse, UNISON has an important role in ensuring that it is used for the better.”

The motion called for UNISON to explore the development of a range of practical tools and guidance to assist branches with divestment campaigns, including:

• Updating its activist guides on pension divestment;
• The setting up of a ‘Divestment Network’ so branches already campaigning, or those who want to start a campaign, can share knowledge, ideas and resources;
• Development of a practical ‘how to’ guidance on lobbying/engaging with pension committees.

Citing the international boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (BDS) campaign that calls for economic and cultural boycotts against Israeli to force the government to comply with human rights standards, Kerie said, “We learned from the apartheid South Africa era how effective BDS can be as a tool to show impactful civil disobedience and force change. 

“This motion is all about evolving our union so that one branches are more knowledgeable and better equipped to start pension divestment campaigns.”

Alaa Hassan (pictured), speaking in support of the motion on behalf of Camden UNISON, said, “As someone whose family comes from Sudan, this motion speaks to me on a very personal level.

“Today, Sudan is experiencing one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Millions of people have been displaced. Families have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and in many cases, their loved ones. As we know, conflict does not happen in isolation. It is underpinned by political and economic interests and investments are not neutral. These decisions that are made about where our money is invested have real world consequences for real people. 

“We are witnessing the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and when we ask if our pension funds are invested in companies that profit from conflict, military, occupation, and human rights abuses, we deserve transparency.”

“Pension governance is complex and difficult to navigate. That's why practical measures in this motion are so important. If we want ethical investments, we need informed activists.”

“We have supported the rights of Palestinians, we have spoken out on climate justice, and we have recognised that human rights and climate crisis are not separate issues. This motion ensures that principles turn into actions that we campaign effectively, that we challenge harmful investments, and to ensure that we do not retire with pensions soaked in the bloods of Palestinians. 

“For all the people living through war and oppression, please support this motion. Thank you.”

Speaking in support on behalf of the motion, Rachel Evans from Islington UNISON said, “Pension divestment is vital. Our pensions are the largest savings we have, and the LGPS invests billions in companies investing Israeli crimes.”

Defending LGPS and challenging Reform UK

Conference also passed motions to strengthen the governance of the LGPS and protect it against attacks from Reform UK.

Introducing the latter motion on behalf of the North West region, Carl Greatbatch said that, while most of Reform UK’s publicity has been about flags and attacks on workers,  “the reality is one of their biggest attacks is going to be what they intend to do to the LGPS.

“The inflammatory language that’s used will be used as an excuse for taking our pensions out of the local government pension schemes.

“We need to send a clear, unmistakeable message from this conference floor that local government workers are the backbone of our communities.”

Conference also passed a motion on strengthening the governance of the LGPS, calling for UNISON to lobby for stronger worker representation and oversight across all LGPS investment pools, and campaign for the strongest possible regulatory safeguards to protect the LGPS against political interference.