Please leave the politics and do your job!

Silverbrooks

Indeed. I am registered for digital notifications and received this:

cloud.publisher-tools.com/16829/28069/28314/130873/index.html?98175

Motion 13 is on page 15.

The UK as a whole imports very little from Israel, less than £2 billion dollars worth of goods and services based the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

tradingeconomics.com/israel/exports/united-kingdom

To put that into context, less than it cost to pay universal winter fuel payment.

The far largest import from Israel is pearls, precious stones, metals, coins but even that’s less than $300 million. Export of (for example) edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit and melons is only $50 million, a market much reduced since 2020:

tradingeconomics.com/israel/exports/united-kingdom/edible-fruits-nuts-peel-citrus-fruit-melons

Other foodstuffs are imported but this is the largest sector.

Pharmaceutical imports amount to only $28 million. The UK exports 20 times that amount in phamaceutical products to Israel around £600 million a year

The Co-op is only the sixth largest food retailer in the UK with a turnover of only £11 billion so its share in that import market would be small compared to say Tesco which has a turnover of £70 billion and Sainsbury’s £37 billion.

The decision will have little effect on Israel’s exports or the Co-op’s trading numbers.

What it does is show that the Co-op listens to its members and has acted accordingly. I applaud them for it.

Hear, hear 👏👏👏

Claremont Hugo Boss supplied the Nazis with uniforms, Mercedes and BMW supplied vehicles and tanks, doesn’t seem to have damaged their public profile or bank accounts.

MaizieD

fancythat

fancythat

Google says "73% of members backed a motion to boycott.."

How come so many of us here did not hear anything at all?

Relatively speaking that is.

Something doesnt sound right to me.

I expect you tossed the notice of the AGM, together with the details of motions to be voted on, into the bin without looking at it when it came through the post.

Lots of people do...

No.
Havent had post for ages from them.

I will need to look up the link that was posted by someone earlier, to see how I missed the vote.
Not that I necessarily would have voted.
Being informed would have been nice though. Necessary/important I would have thought.

Allira

Maremia

Boycotting is one of the few powers that ordinary people have. Do you dislike boycotting on principle, or is it because of the country in focus?

It's not up to the Co-Op to decide for me.

I can decide whether to buy or not, it is their job to supply food.

Why shouldn't the members decide. You can go elsewhere if you don't agree.

This is such a pettyfogging argument.

Having had a look at the link Silverbrooks posted, I am wondering if perhaps the co-op is no longer posting out their bumpf?

I too am a member of the Co-op. I was fully kept up to date with this and I voted accordingly at the AGM (online) in May.

Democracy in action.

Good for them.

MG55

I too am a member of the Co-op. I was fully kept up to date with this and I voted accordingly at the AGM (online) in May.

You received post?

Online through emails but I could have gone in person to vote at the Co-op indoor arena in Manchester.
In 2024, I could have watched the vote online from home but not sure if they did that this year.

Like most organisations now, the main method for accessing member details is digital. You can access via their app or online. We were informed of the changes by post, from memory I think about four or five years ago.

I do seem to remember that we received paper voting ballots years in the post but I cannot remember when that changed.

I agree with Monica it is always the 'fashionable' politics which large organisations embrace, for example it is extraordinarily easy for example to have pride flags everywhere now, it is not a unpopular cause, that kind of support would have been useful many years ago, it takes no bravery now. So no I don't see any of those actions as meaningful at all.

Galaxy

I agree with Monica it is always the 'fashionable' politics which large organisations embrace, for example it is extraordinarily easy for example to have pride flags everywhere now, it is not a unpopular cause, that kind of support would have been useful many years ago, it takes no bravery now. So no I don't see any of those actions as meaningful at all.

I think that’s an unfair criticism in this case Galaxy. There are 17 countries included, many of them not ‘fashionable’ at all and the motion was put forward by and voted for by members, it’s not new territory for the Co Op. it doesn’t matter if you don’t agree with it, it was voted for democratically - and if anybody doesn’t like it, they can just shop elsewhere?

Yes I agree I was speaking broadly about large organisations and 'causes'. I do avoid the co op to be fair, but their customers obviously are entitled to do what they like!

MayBee70

My partner does all the food shopping. It will make life easier for him as he's been boycotting Israeli goods for quite a while.

It’s a shame, as most Israeli people are very peaceful, they probably don’t want war.

most Israeli people are very peaceful

Wondering how you know this please?

I agree with the stance the Co op has made. Try to buy uk
Produce, very few items from abroad.

Mt61

MayBee70

My partner does all the food shopping. It will make life easier for him as he's been boycotting Israeli goods for quite a while.

It’s a shame, as most Israeli people are very peaceful, they probably don’t want war.

Well, they voted in the deputies who form the current government that are behind these atrocities, and while there have been some protests there have not been many.

I am sure they do not want war, but only if the Palestinians do as they are told by Israel.

lafergar

*most Israeli people are very peaceful*

Wondering how you know this please?

I’ve watched a lot of documentaries on the Jewish people, they come across as peaceful people

Mt61

lafergar

most Israeli people are very peaceful

Wondering how you know this please?

I’ve watched a lot of documentaries on the Jewish people, they come across as peaceful people

Who funded these documentaries

OldFrill

Mt61

lafergar

most Israeli people are very peaceful

Wondering how you know this please?

I’ve watched a lot of documentaries on the Jewish people, they come across as peaceful people

Who funded these documentaries

Most ordinary citizens in the world want to live in peace.

I am unclear what you mean about funding oldfrill, could you explain.

Where will be free speech if no one can demonstrate an opinion these days.

I am pro Israel btw

Galaxy

Yes I agree I was speaking broadly about large organisations and 'causes'. I do avoid the co op to be fair, but their customers obviously are entitled to do what they like!

It's not "customers" who voted but all members could. It's likely that they are customers but not all members will be customers and not all customers will be members. It's a choice.

To be able to vote at the Co-op AGM you did have to be customer. The criteria were:

Spend £100 at Co-op

Rule 1: The Individual Member has recorded a minimum spend of £100 over the 12 months immediately prior to the calculation date in Co-op Food.

Spend on Co-op Legal Services, Co-op Funeralcare or Insurance

Rule 2: The Individual Member has been the named holder of a Co-op Insurance policy within the 12 months immediately prior to the calculation date.

Rule 3: The Individual Member has made any purchases from Co-op Legal Services within the 12 months immediately prior to the calculation date.

Rule 4: The Individual Member has purchased a Co-op Funeralcare or a Fairways Pre-paid Funeral Plan as at the calculation date.

Rule 5: The Individual Member has purchased a funeral or memorial masonry from Co-op Funeralcare or a funeral home operated by the Co-op within 12 months immediately prior to the calculation date.