Trade Union Friends of Israel has been established to strengthen the links between the Histadrut (the Israeli TUC), the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the British Trade Union Movement.

TUFI aims:

• to promote efforts towards finding a just and lasting peace settlement for both Israelis and Palestinians.
• to initiate dialogue by taking British delegations to meet with both Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists.
• to build support for the Peace Process in the UK by providing meetings and briefings for British Trade Unionists.

Avi Edri, the Chairman of the Israeli transport workers’ union, addressed The National Union of Rail, Martine and Transport Workers (RMT) at their annual conference on Monday 29 June.

Edri said that “trade unions should rise above the difficult geopolitical situation and seek common denominators for the sake of workers and the citizens on both sides”. He said that the Histadrut (Israeli TUC) regards equality, solidarity and brotherhood as its core principles and the “best example of such a success is the involvement of the International Transport Federation in the relationship between Israeli and Palestinian Transport Workers Unions”.

The Histadrut has worked on improving the ongoing relationship with its Palestinian counterpart, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and Edri said that he had “no doubt that through dialogue and cooperation they can attain successes on behalf of the workers they represent.

Edri also referred to the issue of union boycotts. He said:

“a union which calls for a boycott on another union, or refuses to give service to another union, isn't harming any government, instead it is harming innocent employees and their families. It is contrary to solidarity and comradeship which is the raison d’être of every trade union around the world. It is also an attempt to undermine efforts to achieve real peace between the Israeli and the Palestinian people. We believe that the efforts to achieve peace should take place in the diplomatic arena through negotiation, rather than by resorting to the use of intimidation and embargoes.”

At the end of his speech, Edri called upon the RMT to take part in joint projects between the Histadrut and the PGFTU and condemn any attempt to boycott Israeli trade unions.

The full speech can be seen here:

Continue reading "Chairman of Israeli Transport Union addresses RMT conference" »

The National Union of Rail, Martine and Transport Workers union (RMT) is hosting an Israeli and a Palestinian delegate at its annual conference in the Isle of Man this week (28 June–3 July 2009). Avi Edri, the Chairman of the Israeli transport workers’ union addressed the conference on Monday 29 June and gave a message of solidarity. He spoke about the development of his union’s relationship with Palestinian counterparts and gave a warning about the damage boycotts could do to ongoing Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation. The Palestinian delegate from the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Fathi Nasser, is due to address the conference on Tuesday (30 June).

RMT conference hall

The director of Trade Union Friends of Israel (TUFI), Stephen Scott, was present at the conference on Monday and commended the RMT for “showing solidarity with both Israeli and Palestinian transport workers and supporting their positive co-operation”.

Israeli and Palestinian transport unions have been working together since 2007 after they signed a number of collaborative agreements at a meeting organised by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). Both parties have been working to improve the passage of professional drivers at checkpoints and road blocks in the West Bank and have set up a ‘transport hotline’.

Avi Edri, the Chairman of the Israeli transport workers’ union at RMT conference

At RMT’s annual conference last year, the union called for a democratic two-state settlement for Israelis and Palestinians, and rejected “passive and divisive tactics such as boycotts,” which it called “inconsistent with the principles of unity and solidarity between workers that our union stands for and wishes to promote.”

UK Trade Union News: Foreign Secretary dismayed at trade union calls to boycott Israel

Israeli-Palestinian Trade Union News: UN ILO report praises Histadrut-PGFTU co-operation

Israeli-Palestinian Trade Union News: Israeli and Palestinian construction unions agree on a joint apprenticeship program

UK Trade Union News: TUFI-Unison fringe event gathers support for “pro-peace, anti-boycott” position

International Trade Union News: German trade union backs Histadrut against anti-Israel boycotts

Peace Process: ‘Peacepoll’ shows that the majority of Palestinians and Israelis support two-state solution

Gaza: Support for Hamas drops

Peace Process: Israeli prime minister calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state

Israeli Affairs: Thousands march in peaceful Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem

Israeli Affairs: Status of Women Committee discusses recent rise in dismissals of pregnant women

Israeli Affairs: New law bans dismissal of workers on sick leave

Israeli Industrial News: Petrol station managers allegedly fired for joining union

Continue reading "TUFI June 2009 Update" »

The British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed dismay that British trade unions are discussing motions calling for boycotts of Israel.

In a statement released on Tuesday 23 June, Miliband said that Ivan Lewis, the new minister responsible for the Middle East, would meet with leaders of trade unions this week to discuss the issue “to make clear the government’s firm belief that calls for boycotts of Israel cannot and do not contribute to peace.”

Miliband said the economic, academic and cultural boycotts "obstruct opportunities for cooperation and dialogue, and serve only to polarize debate further. Boycotts would only make it harder to achieve the peace that both Palestinians and Israelis deserve and desire."

The full statement:...

Continue reading "Miliband 'dismayed' by boycott calls by trade unions" »

Peace group OneVoice have recently published their `PeacePoll` which shows a 74-78% backing of a Two State solution from each side to end the conflict. The poll was conducted by Dr. Colin Irwin, from the University of Liverpool, who conducted much of the polling to support the negotiors for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

You can find the details of the poll here.

Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP) have posted on the recent ILO Report that has highlighted the work of co-operation between the Histadrut and PGFTU.

http://www.tuliponline.org/?p=374

Trade Union Friends of Israel (TUFI) held a packed fringe event yesterday (Wednesday 17 June) for over 50 Unison delegates attending the union’s annual conference in Brighton.

TUFI was prohibited from attending the conference this year so the event was moved to a hotel outside the conference centre.

The speakers included: Terry McCorran, a Unison branch secretary from Northern Ireland, Chris Hudson, a peace activist, and Eric Lee, who spoke for the new global organisation Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP).

From left to right: Eric Lee, Steve Scott, Doreen Gerson, Terry McCorran and Chris Hudson

Terry McCorran talking at TUFI-Unison fringe event

Chris Hudson spoke about his experiences of working as the head of the South African anti-apartied movement in Ireland and criticised those that tried to draw parallels with the situation in Israel.

Terry McCorran talked about the positive work that trade unions had done to help the peace process in Northern Ireland and how they should do the same with Israel and Palestine instead of listening to the pro-boycott activists who were only attempting to drive a wedge between the two sides.

Speaking for TULIP, Eric Lee said that the anti-Israel activism in the UK trade union movement was not found in other countries and should not be seen as the norm. He said that TULIP was set up to globalise the pro-peace, pro-cooperation, and anti-boycott trade union effort that TUFI promotes.

The director of TUFI, Steve Scott, also spoke, highlighting the positive Israeli-Palestinian trade union co-operation already going on between the Histadrut (Israeli) the PGFTU and transport and construction unions from both sides. He said that trade unionists around the world should support these positive efforts rather than call for disruptive boycotts.

The overall message of the event was pro-peace-anti-boycott and sparked a lively discussion. It persuaded a number of delegates to speak against the negative motion debated the following day, which resulted in more than 40% of the conference voting against the composite motion.

Article from the Jerusalem Post:

Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) President Michael Sommer announced his support Thursday for a new labor-based group, TULIP, that aims to stop trade union-sponsored efforts to boycott Israel.

Speaking at a joint Histadrut and DGB event in Berlin entitled "A reliable partnership," Histadrut Labor Federation Chairman Ofer Eini said it "is a bad phenomenon" when labor unions declare a boycott against Israel because it "damages the workers organizations" among Palestinians and Israelis.

Continue reading "German trade union head backs Histadrut against anti-Israel boycotts" »

What next for Israeli-Palestinian Trade Union Cooperation?

TUFI is holding a public fringe event during Unison's National Delegate Conference in Brighton. Speakers will include:

Eric Lee, Trade Unions Linking Israel & Palestine
Terry McCorran, Unison Member (speaking in a personal capacity)
Chris Hudson, Peace Activist

Time: 12:45 - 2:00pm, Wednesday 17 June 2009

Venue: Regent Room, The Grand Hotel
(King's Road, 2 minutes walk from the Brighton conference centre)

A buffet lunch with tea & coffee will be provided

Everyone is welcome, please do come along

International Trade Union News: TULIP, a new global movement is born

Israeli affairs: Israeli Jewish-Arab duo sings for peace at the Eurovision Song Contest

Continue reading "May 2009 Update" »