Unity is strength

In the wake of the horrific attacks that took place in Paris on Friday (November 13) Unite last night expressed its deepest sympathy, sending heartfelt condolences to the friends, families and loved ones of all those killed and injured.

On behalf of Unite, general secretary Len McCluskey said, “The perpetrators of the act and those behind it are guilty of a most barbaric act aimed at destabilising and dividing French society. They will not succeed.

“It is essential at this trying and difficult time that politicians and authorities are vigilant, but it is also essential that they do not reach for ill thought-out solutions or slip into knee jerk reactions – that is precisely what those behind the act would want.

“We must not allow the tragedy to be used as a reason to turn our backs on the hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing chaos, war and destruction, and we must act in unity against those who may seek to use the tragedy to sow further divisions, mistrust and hatred in society.

“Unity is strength. Unite will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of France.”

 

And Unite sister union USW (United Steelworkers – based in the USA, Canada and Mexico) also expressed solidarity with the people of France.

‘Expressing our grief’

Today on behalf of the USW, international president Leo Gerard joined “the rest of the global trade union movement in expressing our grief at the senseless killings in Paris and our solidarity with the French people.

“The attacks by the so-called Islamic State are an affront to the true values of Islam and of humanity.  The trade union movement and all defenders of humanity and democracy must respond by asserting even more forcefully the rights of refugees and other victims of violence and inequality.”

And fellow global union industriAll Europe and industriALL Global Union, which together representing more than 50m workers around the world, condemned Friday´s terrorist attacks and added their voice to grief of loss.

Ulrich Eckelmann, general secretary of industriAll Europe and Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union, are in one voice, standing with the people of France.

They say, “industriAll European and industriAll Global Union are shaken and appalled at the awful terror attacks on innocent people in Paris.

“We grieve with our comrades in France, and the rest of the world over this meaningless attack, and offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences with the victims and their bereaved families.

Directed against all

“These attempts are not directed only against France. They are directed against all peace-loving people and against everything that is human dignity, mutual respect and tolerance.

“The terrorists must never be successful. We won’t be intimidated and driven into hatred and misanthropy. We stand for freedom, solidarity and democratic societies. And we refuse to be diverted to the road of radicalism and xenophobia.”

As we publish this article 129 people have been killed – 25 from other nations – and hundreds more are receiving treatment in hospitals in the French capital as the world looks on in horror and outrage.

French President Francois Hollande has called the attacks, “a declaration of war” and has declared a national state of emergency.