Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are writing this letter to urge you to contribute to a special fund established by the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) to help with the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. All funds sent to the PGFTU GAZA AID will go to basic survival needs — food, medicine, rudimentary shelter.
Last night (Jan. 12), the San Francisco Labor Council delegates’ meeting adopted a resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the region and “urges all parties to address the serious humanitarian and economic needs of the people of Gaza.” This entails — the resolution pointed out — “opening of border crossings to ensure the continuous provision of humanitarian supplies, including supplies of food, fuel and provision of medical treatment.”
At the conclusion of the SFLC meeting, a fund appeal was issued to the delegates urging their support for the PGFTU GAZA AID fund. More than $500 were raised on the spot. We urge all unionists and labor rights’ activists who are concerned about the horrific situation facing the people of Gaza to contribute with the same enthusiasm to this fund.
Our Bay Area union brother, Monadel Herzallah, of CSEA and the Arab American Union Members Council (AAUMC), has arranged for AAUMC to forward the funds to the PGFTU in GAZA. The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) will handle online credit card donations (see below).
The PGFTU is a secular labor organization representing Palestinian workers both inside Israel and in the West Bank and Gaza. It also provides assistance to many unemployed Palestinian families. The Arab American Union Members Council (http://www.aaumc.org) advocates for Arab American union members and their families in the Bay Area.
TO CONTRIBUTE DONATIONS TO THE PGFTU FOR GAZA RELIEF BY CHECK:
Make your check payable to the AAUMC (Arab American Union Members Council) and put PGFTU GAZA AID in the memo line.
TO CONTRIBUTE DONATIONS TO THE PGFTU FOR GAZA RELIEF BY CREDIT CARD:
On-line donations will be accepted by Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) at <https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=1171>.
Check off “Gift Information: I’d like to make this gift on behalf of” and fill in “PGFTU Gaza Relief” in the form. Where it says: “Please send acknowledgement of this gift to,” put <info@aaumc.org> as the email address.
Donations made on-line are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law; however, such donations are reduced by the amount of processing fees.
Contact information:
Arab American Union Members Council
Web Site: www.aaumc.org
P.O. Box 22518, San Francisco, CA 94122.
Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU)
Web Site: www.pgftu.org
E-mail: pgftu@pgftu.org
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
In solidarity,
Alan Benjamin, Francesca Rosa, and Rodger Scott
Delegates to the San Francisco Labor Council