Features
USEFUL WEBSITES
|
The conflict in the Middle East rages on but trade unions in the area are continuing to fight for the rights of working men and women. Nathalie Towner reports
Peace in our time?
Think of the Middle East and inevitably the conflict between Israel and
the Palestinian people comes to mind. And for the people of this region
this is the backdrop against which they must try and get on with their
lives.
Trade union activity on both sides continues but, inevitably, the politics
of the region and the violent fallout have a major impact on their work.
The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions spends most of its
time focusing on poverty and unemployment relief. With unemployment rates
of up to 60%, much of the population is dependent on state benefits and
charities and, with the current Israeli-led restrictions on movement,
there is even more limited access to the jobs market.
The repercussions of the conflict can also be felt on the Israeli side,
with plummeting economic growth and a right-wing government that is spending
vast quantities on defence to the detriment of the public services.
Nawaf Massalha, head of the international department at Histradrut –
the Israeli equivalent of the TUC – and also a former deputy foreign
minister believes the government's policy toward the Palestinians has
been highly damaging for both sides. He is keen to disassociate his organisation
from the right-wing stance of Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister.
"We believe the political policy is wrong and, whenever we get the
chance, we encourage Sharon to leave Gaza and to negotiate with the Palestinian
Authority," he explains.
"We are a moderate organisation and really hope that a formula will
be found for peace, but first we need to see more co-operation."
According to Massalha, in the four years since the current intifada
began, economic growth in Israel has dropped to 0% and the government
has cut back in real terms on unemployment benefit, children's allowances
and pension contributions. Finding work is becoming increasingly difficult.
"Now we have less tourism, less investment from foreign organisations
and our infrastructure is suffering."
The Israeli unions have organised high-level strikes, kick-started by
finance minister Binyamin Netanyahu's attempt to reduce the salaries and
benefits of public-sector workers.
"Netanyahu has declared he is adopting the policies of Thatcher –
we saw what happened in Britain and know this is catastrophic for the
trade unions," says Massalha.
High levels of security have made it difficult for the Israeli and Palestinian
trade unions to work together.
"The problems with security have made it hard for us,” explains
Massalha. "The suicide bombers have made it very difficult and the
Israeli trade unions are ultimately not responsible for security measures."
Despite the strict security measures, Massalha says that Histadrut continues
to have a strong relationship with the Palestinian trade union movement.
"An agreement exists to give priority to Palestinian workers over
other foreign nationals, but it has become difficult for them to come
here recently, so there have been more immigrant workers from Thailand,
Rumania and China," he explains.
"We have called for the government to make it easier for the Palestinians
at checkpoints, to stop the restrictions on workers and to stop destroying
Palestinian houses."
But with the relationship between the trade unions and the government
reaching an all-time low, Histradrut no longer has a special relationship
with government.
"Since Sharon came to power, he has tried to undermine all the achievements
of the previous Labour government," says Massalha.
One example of this is the government's plan for legislation that would
mean unions have to give employers far more advance notice of strike action,
making it far harder to mobilise workers.
According to the chairman of the social and economic department of the
Histradrut, Ephraim Zilloney, the government is fighting the unemployed,
not unemployment, and is failing to create more jobs because of the political
and security problems.
"Netanyahu speaks out against the detachment of the Gaza strip, but
on the other hand, he knows only the peace process will bring back investors,"
he explains.
"We urge the government to do what is needed to support the peace
process – we see the detachment of the Gaza strip as a move in the
right direction. At the moment, we have a hostile relationship with the
government, but it needs to understand that we need to seek a solution
together."
Zillinoy would like to see the Israeli government adopt a far more European
approach to trade unions.
"Here is not like in Europe, where the governments try and conciliate
with the workers – here the government is saying it wants to break
up organised workers."
Ultimately, he and many other trade unionists believe a breakthrough in
the peace process is the key to greater prosperity for everyone in the
region.
"We see the peace process as the only way of bringing about better
conditions for everyone. The intifada has affected jobs and education
and particularly poorer people."
|
KEY FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL
Info from www.infoplease.com |
LOTS MORE FEATURESIncluding stress in the workplace, getting out of debt and the pensions crisis more... |
© Copyright 2008
