The undersigned Global Union Federations (GUFs) condemn the recent military attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, including air strikes that have resulted in civilian deaths, injuries, and the destruction of critical public infrastructure — among them schools and medical facilities.
These actions represent grave violations of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law and further escalate a conflict whose human cost is borne overwhelmingly by working people.
Workers, civilians, and public institutions must never be targets of military operations. The killing and injuring of students, teachers, and education personnel, and the destruction of protected civilian spaces such as schools and hospitals, is intolerable and must be unequivocally condemned.
The GUFs are also concerned by the subsequent retaliatory attacks by Iran. Escalation will only deepen instability, threaten civilian lives, including migrant workers and transport workers in ports, airports and at sea – who have already been reported killed and injured as violence spreads across the region – a caught in the crossfire, and risk plunging the region into a wider, devastating war.
The global trade union movement stands united in rejecting the use of military force that fuels cycles of violence, and undermines the foundations of peace, justice, and multilateral cooperation. Diplomacy — not armed confrontation—remains the only legitimate path toward security and lasting peace.
As unions representing millions of workers across sectors and continents, we call on the international community to:
- Condemn the use of military force by all parties and prevent further escalation;
- Ensure an immediate ceasefire and full de-escalation;
- Prioritise diplomacy and dialogue, including a strengthened, coordinated role for the United Nations;
- Defend international law, including the UN Charter and the protection of civilians;
- Safeguard critical public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and workplaces;
- Uphold human rights, labour rights, democratic freedoms, and freedom of association across the region;
The GUFs stand in unwavering solidarity with workers, independent unions, and communities in Iran and throughout the region. Workers’ voices — too often silenced by authoritarian governance and the logic of militarisation — must be heard. The future of Iran, and of the region, must be determined by its people themselves, free from external aggression and internal repression.
We reaffirm our commitment to building a world in which conflicts are resolved through negotiation, multilateralism is strengthened, and all people have the right to live and work in safety, dignity, democracy, and peace.
Signed by:
- Education International
- International Domestic Workers Federation
- Public Services International
- International Federation of Journalists
- International Transport Workers’ Federation
- IndustriALL Global Union
- UNI Global Union
- International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations
- Building and Wood Workers’ International
Image credit: REUTERS
