it felt strange watching this happen - hearing the rejection of genocide & desire to show solidarity in whatever way we are able described as 'fashionable identity politics', hearing the idea of a bare minimum statement in support of ceasefire described as being outside the >

Been to the Society of Authors EGM and I’m disgusted, angry, disillusioned … the resolution wasn’t even demanding anything radical; just a statement of solidarity with Palestinian writers and literary institutions/orgs. What’s the point in a Trade Union that is so conservative?

thanks Kundiman and Bookshop.org US for highlighting THEOPHANIES among legends for AAPI heritage month! so special to see my book among its teachers and friends and influences 💫

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Shocked and ashamed that my trade union, Society of Authors has today voted *NOT* to issue a public statement, not even a mild one, related to Israel’s ongoing slaughter of the Palestinians. Specifically.. 1/

Good editors will change your life. Even the most discerning person still just be saying stuff sometimes. You cannot always see when you're being absolutely full of shit.

Unions have a duty of care to their members to respond adequately and with strong rhetoric. The role of a union is to assert rights in a system designed to annull them and exploit workers. Writers in no different a situation.

Speeches w support from management about the need to commit ourselves to the long fight against climate catastrophe followed by strong urges from the same management team to vote against the motion on Palestine…….

Members of the SoA voted for fossil fuel divestment but against a motion for a public statement recognising the ongoing genocide in Gaza & acknowledging its impact on Palestinian writers. As if one were possible without the other.

While the SoA motion to call for a ceasefire and condemn the genocide in Gaza has not passed I will not lose hope.

Destroying hope is the tool of the oppressor. Instead, I find light in all the organisers around the world who are not backing down and who are using their voices.

Fossil Free Books would like to share this statement following on from our historic vote at the May 2nd EGM with Society of Authors.

While our resolution calling for a statement to condemn genocide in Gaza did NOT pass, our resolution on fossil fuels divestment did pass.

1/7 🧵

Turnout is looking shockingly bad in London.

That's the Tories best chance of winning the mayoralty.

So go

- vote for Sadiq Khan for Mayor

- Green for the Greater London Assembly

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Truth

Disappointed that the Society of Authors members voted down a statement on Gaza, and that the management committee don't see solidarity – the basic organising principle of unionism – as a function of the institution.

The resolution brought forward by Society of Authors members calling for a statement to be made in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, didn't pass.

That means the murder of 40,000+ Palestinians isn't enough to compel a majority vote among British writers. What a time.

We need a new authors union in the UK.