- The Guardian
- Issue #2144
An activist-run ship on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza was attacked by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta last week, its organisers said.
The Conscience, a 68-metre-long passenger ship carrying volunteers from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), had set sail from the Mediterranean island nation to the besieged Palestinian territory.
The grassroots solidarity movement whose goal is to end Israel’s two-month illegal blockade of Gaza said they had been organising the non-violent action under a ”media black-out” in hopes of avoiding any potential sabotage.
At 12:23am, two weaponised drones ”attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull,” the FFC said.
Prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has been involved with FFC’s humanitarian mission, called on supporters to demand action from the authorities. “Attacking a humanitarian mission is a war crime,” the Swede said in a video posted online. “We need you to demand your government stops all aid to Israel and demands an end to the illegal siege.”
Fellow FFC activist Rebeca Ruiz said the boat was carrying family members of humanitarian activists on the Mavi Marmara – one of six civilian ships delivering aid to Gaza that the Israeli military attacked in 2010, killing 10 activists and wounding 30.
PARASITE OF THE WEEK: is aged care provider Illawarra Retirement Trust (IRT) which has failed to pass on government funded pay rises resulting from the Fair Work Commission Aged Care Work Value Case decision.
IRT, which operates 19 aged care facilities across NSW including southeast Sydney, the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, and the south coast, has refused to provide its employees with the March work value increase that other registered nurses (RNs) and enrolled nurses (ENs) working in aged care facilities across Australia have received.
IRT has also failed to commit to pass on the additional government increases for nurses and carers occurring in October 2025 and August 2026.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said the federal government had been clear that this should be additional to any increases from the employer through the enterprise agreement.
“It’s deeply disappointing to see not-for-profit provider IRT refusing to pass on pay increases to their incredibly hardworking nurses and carers,” said Candish.
“It is our expectation that the federal government’s funding will be passed on in full to workers following the Fair Work Commission’s ruling which highlighted the historic undervaluing of the female-dominated care industry.
“The NSWNMA is not aware of any other providers refusing in this manner. In tough economic times, our members desperately need this income boost. Anything less than passing this funding on in full is pocketing money which should be going to nurses and carers.
“As part of the March tranche of funding, RNs and ENs across the country are receiving up to $6 extra an hour, but IRT employees are missing out. The October increase is also at risk of not being delivered to our members, with IRT refusing to commit to it.”
Candish said residents would want their nurses and care staff to be compensated for the incredible work they do and that failure to pass on these increases are likely to impact IRT’s ability to attract and retain nurses and care staff and meet mandatory care minutes.
“We call on IRT to do the right thing and show they value their workforce by ensuring nurses and carers receive the pay they deserve.”
IRT’s enterprise agreement, which includes a proposed offer of 7.5 per cent over three years, will be put to members to vote on soon.
