How can your worker co-op show Palestine solidarity? Lessons from other worker co-ops.

Lots of people within and connected to worker co-ops are looking for ways to show solidarity with Palestine and are wondering what they or their co-op can do.

This Spring, at the Worker Co-op Weekend 2025 we gathered and heard from someone at Infinity Foods in Brighton about their journey proposing and advocating for solidarity actions within their workplace.

During the session, people from co-ops across the UK shared details about actions that they took individually or collectively in their co-op. It wasn’t always straight forward, but we heard about how the process of proposing boycotts led to member education around Palestine which ultimately was a positive thing.

Through this process we’ve collected a list of resources and actions taken by worker co-ops that we would like to share, that will hopefully be helpful to others.

If anyone has time to put into creating a Palestine solidarity network through the workers co-op federation, or further ideas or proposals, get in touch.

Ideas & actions shared by others

Scroll to the bottom of this page to read about examples from two worker co-ops.

  • Bring BDS proposals to your co-op. We’ve found it’s worthwhile even if it doesn’t pass – members shared how they had structured their BDS proposal, shared information with their co-operative and how it was received. If you want to speak to members who’ve put through a proposal like this, email solidarity@workers.coop.

  • Display Palestine solidarity materials in your workplace or commercial space. We have members who display flags and posters for solidarity actions.

  • The ‘Boycott Bloody insurance’ campaign – It was pointed out that co-operatives may have insurance which has investments in apartheid Israel. There is a campaign around this which has the details on which insurance companies to watch out for and which to switch to. Link to the campaign here.

  • Divestment from pensions – look into and share a ‘How To’ guide amongst worker co-op workers on how to divest your personal pension plan if that plan has investments in Israel. Does your Company pension plan have investments in Israeli apartheid?

  • Workplace whatsapp groups. For sharing Palestine solidarity ideas, events and info within the workplace and bringing together people who are interested in going to local or national events. This could be expanded to a broader inter-coop network whereby workers could see who else from the co-op movement is attending events they would like to attend.

  • Supporting Palestine goods, e.g. Zaytoun

  • Talking about Palestine solidarity on your website or social media, or posting a photo of an action or event you’ve been to. There’s an example of this below.

  • Marking workplace days of action. There are regular days of action called by the solidarity movement with many ways to support these.

  • Using space as event space for fundraisers. Especially for businesses and co-ops with existing event space or floor space, such as cafes, or co-working venues. The space could also be rented out at solidarity rates or for free to groups gathering for Palestine.

  • Profit pool to donate to fundraisers/campaigns – or solidarity fund out of profits.

  • Supporting existing or new worker co-ops in Palestine. Your co-op could buddy with a co-op in Palestine, maybe speak to Valley Organics who have spoken with businesses in the region, or Yalla co-op. If you’re a co-op development advisor you could offer some free support.

  • Using your co-op as a space to distribute materials and store banners and other equipment for actions and protests. There will be co-op printers who will likely be able to print flyers/posters for solidarity prices for Palestine, for example you could reach out to Footprints worker co-op.

  • Bike rides e.g. Big Ride for Palestine. Especially given we have quite a few bike worker co-ops and projects dotted around. Anyone can join in the bike ride and it can be completed in legs. If you’re a bike co-op, you can do more to support these rides.

Pooling Resources. As Martin from Infinity says, the Worker Co-op Weekend shows how, when we come together and pool resources we can achieve so much more than we can alone. So in a similar spirit co-operating and sharing resources might improve any Palestine solidarity initiative. Organising a fundraiser? Your local workers co-operative may be able to help with : printing/banner making  for actions(protests etc.)- tech support/ donate a gift basket or ingredients/ a space for benefits. Perhaps most importantly of all, co-operating on ideas and initiatives makes them so much better than they otherwise would be.        

Example: Birmingham Bike Foundry

The Birmingham Bike Foundry display a Palestine flag in their window.

Along with supporting local protests and events, they participate in the Big Ride for Palestine.

On shop time, one of their workers supported the ride by being a ride mechanic, fixing issues along the way. They’ve done this for a few years now.

They also saw to lots of last minute repairs and advice for people participating in the ride.

Example: Valley Organics

There aren’t that many worker co-ops who talk about Palestine solidarity on their website, but one example we could find is Valley Organics, a wholefood co-op in West Yorkshire.

  • As a wholefoods co-op, Valley Organics can stock Palestinian goods and be in touch with Palestinian traders, something that many wholefood co-ops do already.
  • This also provides them with the opportunity to visit their suppliers and recently they’ve been able to make new connections with specific businesses in Palestine and other groups.
  • Another thing that Valley Organics have done is set up a crowdfunder which you can see here. Originally this was set up to support ethical and like-minded businesses in Palestine.
  • Having this in place, meant that they were able to re-direct these funds to more immediate relief when the humanitarian crisis intensified.
  • Valley Organics talk about the crisis on their website too, to explain what is going on.

Valley Organics have outlined how their support for Palestine follows naturally with their co-op’s values of solidarity, social responsibility and support for other local and ethical businesses. What are your own co-op’s values and how do these play a part in your support and your own solidarity with causes?