The All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions (APFUTU) expresses its full and unwavering solidarity with the international dockworkers’ strike taking place on 30 October against war, imperialist blockades, the militarization of economies, and the use of workers’ labour and infrastructure for military purposes.
APFUTU salutes the courageous dockworkers and their unions who, through collective action, have refused to handle or transport military equipment destined for war and the destruction of civilian lives. Their actions demonstrate the strength of organized workers when they unite across borders in defence of peace, humanity, and international solidarity.
We particularly welcome the expansion of this international mobilization, with dockworkers’ unions participating across nearly 100 ports on four continents. This growing international movement is an important example of working-class unity and demonstrates that workers can take meaningful and concrete action against war, militarization, and injustice.
APFUTU strongly believes that the struggle against the militarization of the economy is directly connected with the daily struggles of working people for decent wages, secure employment, collective bargaining rights, better working conditions, housing, healthcare, and quality education. Resources that are spent on war and weapons should instead be invested in improving the lives and social conditions of workers and their families.
The dockworkers’ movement also reminds us that international solidarity must go beyond words. When workers act together, collectively and across national borders, they have the power to challenge policies that serve war, exploitation, and imperialist interests. Their struggle represents a powerful expression of working-class internationalism.
APFUTU stands in solidarity with the workers and trade unions participating in the 30 October mobilization and with all workers who refuse to become part of the machinery of war. We support the call for an end to wars, occupations, imperialist blockades, and all forms of aggression, and we reaffirm our solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for peace.
We also express our solidarity with workers and youth mobilizing in different countries for better wages, social protection, housing, healthcare, education, and decent working conditions. These struggles are interconnected, because workers everywhere face the consequences of economic policies that prioritize militarization and profit over people and social needs.
APFUTU believes that the international trade union movement has an important role to play in building a world based on peace, social justice, workers’ rights, international cooperation, and friendship among peoples.
Workers in ports, transport, fisheries, communications, and all other sectors have a common interest: we work for life, dignity, peace, and social progress—not for war and destruction.
While those who promote war build walls between peoples, the international working class builds bridges through solidarity, unity, and collective action.
APFUTU salutes the dockworkers and trade unions participating in the international mobilization on 30 October.
Long live international trade union solidarity! Long live workers’ unity across borders! Long live the struggle for peace, justice, and social progress! Workers of the world, unite!
Zia Syed
Secretary General