Public Services International (PSI) is a global trade union federation representing 20 million public sector workers in 150 countries. Its world congress concluded three days ago in Durban, South Africa.

Though a search of the PSI website and its special congress site shows nothing about this, there are reports all over the web celebrating the decision to pass a resolution denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” and calling for a programme of boycotts, divestments and sanctions.

For example, UNISON Active in the UK writes:

“Chris Tansley, UNISON President, intervened in the Congress debate on Palestine in support of the Palestinian people. Delegates backed Resolution 42 which referred to Israel as an apartheid state and called for a global policy of Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), and a composite motion, submitted by UNISON, PCS and PSI Africa region which called for action against companies complicit in the illegal Israeli occupation. In the lunch break before the debate South Africa’s Coalition for a Free Palestine - supported by SAMWU (South African Municipal Workers Union), NEHAWU (National Health Education and Allied Workers Union) and other COSATU affiliates - had lobbied Congress delegates in a show of solidarity with Palestine.”

There doesn’t appear to be, at the moment, anything on the websites of UNISON or PCS, the two UK unions which proposed one of the resolutions.

If true, this is bad news for the international trade union movement, as it undermines any role PSI could play as a bridge between Israeli and Palestinian public sector workers.