Donors Withdraw Support from Payday over Gaza Coverage

Trade unionists blockade an arms factory in the UK (Trade Unionists for Palestinians)

Over the past several weeks, even months, Payday Report has received several emails denouncing our coverage of unions pushing back against the War in Gaza. 

One reader, Stefan Ostrach, wrote to us saying, “Why does Payday have to jump on the anti-Israel bandwagon? I’m on the verge of cancelling my monthly support!” 

Another subscriber, James Donley, wrote to Payday to say that we should not be focusing on unions like the NEA, UAW, National Nurses Union, Flight Attendants, and UE that have called for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

“The world seems to be awash with people who think it is proper to go beyond the scope of their job, and use their position to advance some personal political agenda,” wrote Donley in an email to Payday. “Union leaders taking stands on foreign policy issues that have nothing to do with labor struggles is completely unprofessional.” 

These subscribers have forgotten the classic labor motto “An injury to one is an injury to all.” Over 20,000 civilians, including over 100 journalists, have died in Israel’s illegal attacks and as a labor movement it’s our role to stand up for the lives of these innocent workers. 

As a Jewish labor reporter, who was a witness to the immediate aftermath of the largest massacre of Jews in the US at the Tree of Life Synagogue and later nominated for an Emmy for my work, I think it’s especially important that we continue to cover the ongoing war crimes against innocent Gaza civilians. 

I remember the rally the day after the massacre when Jewish youth came together in Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh and chanted “Safety through Solidarity.” It’s only through solidarity with others, not war, that we will achieve true safety for all. 

As a Jewish labor reporter, I am gonna continue covering that fight for solidarity as unions around the world push for a ceasefire. While some subscribers threaten to cancel their subscriptions to Payday Report, we hope others step in and donate to help us continue covering how unions are fighting back. 

Donate to help us cover how workers are fighting back and pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza.

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About the Author

Mike Elk
Mike Elk is an Emmy-nominated labor reporter and alumni of the Guardian. In addition to filing nearly 2,000 stories from 46 states, Elk traveled with Lula from Sáo Bernando do Campos all the way to the Oval Office in the White House. Credited by the Washington Post for being the first reporter to track the strike wave systematically, Elk started Payday Report using his NLRB settlement from being illegally fired for union organizing in 2015. He lives in his hometown of Pittsburgh and works frequently in Rio de Janeiro, where he attended college at PUC-Rio. He speaks both Portuguese and Pittsburghese fluently. His email is [email protected]