TUFI November 2006 Update:Tel Aviv Airport Layoffs Highlight Temporary Workers Plight
500 temporary workers begun industrial action at Ben Gurion Airport on 1 November in protest at their lack of equivalent employment rights to their full-time counterparts.
The situation of 120 cleaning and other auxilliary staff at the airport, who are facing redundancy, has highlighted the problems faced by thousands of such workers in the air industry. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) has justified the use of temporary employees on the grounds of the seasonal nature of the airport’s labour needs. This includes periodic firing and rehiring, and reduced severance packages and benefits obligations.
Transportation Minister, Shaul Mofaz, and the Chairman of the Histadrut labor federation, Ofer Eini, have agreed to continue negotiations throughout November and that staff dismissals would not go ahead until the talks are completed. This parallels the National Labor Court’s ruling in early November to postpone the dismissals until November 15, in order to allow intensive negotiations, despite its further ruling that the strike was “unjustified”.
In the meantime, the Histadrut and the IAA have agreed to reduce the numbers being potentially layed-off to 74. The IAA has begun to re-staff the vacated positions in anticpation of further industrial action. It has been accused of doing so to prevent existing employees from gaining seniority.
Prime Minister calls for new Middle East Strategy
Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s banquet at the Guildhall on Monday 13 November, Prime Minister Tony Blair called for a new Middle East strategy which includes greater engagement with Iran and Syria, arguing that the only way to progress on the Israel-Palestine Middle East Peace Process and to stabilise Iraq was to bring Damascus and Tehran into the fold and open a renewed dialogue.
Reiterating previous foreign policy objectives, he once again put solutions for Israel-Palestine at the heart of any regional strategy.
“we should start with Israel/Palestine. That is the core. We should then make progress on Lebanon. We should unite all moderate Arab and Moslem voices behind a push for peace in those countries but also in Iraq”
He went on to confirm that the US did not have plans to seek a military solution in Iran but warned Tehran to comply with the international community and give up its weapons programme:
“offer Iran a clear strategic choice: they help the peace process, not hinder it; they stop supporting terrorism in Lebanon or Iraq; and they abide by, not flout, their international obligations. In that case, a new partnership is possible. Or alternatively they face the consequences of not doing so: isolation”
Fatah and Hamas agree on PM candidate for unity government
Hamas and Fatah moved further towards the creation of a national unity government on Monday 13 November. After agreeing that they would appoint a non Hamas Prime Minister to lead a national unity government, Muhammad Shabeir, an academic from Gaza, who is affiliated to Hamas but not a party member, has emerged a frontrunner.
Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy to the Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, said that the planned Palestinian unity government would not recognise Israel.
Government vote for Hariri tribunal
Six cabinet ministers resigned from the Lebanese government at the beginning of November. All are considered to be pro-Syrian and affiliated to Hezbollah. Their resignations came as the cabinet was due to vote on a draft of the UN proposal to set up a tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri inquiry.
The Shia ministers denied that they were trying to block the tribunal which was passed on Monday 13th November, regardless of resignations, by the two thirds of the cabinet that remained intact. Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud said that the resignations, which meant that no Shia ministers sat on the cabinet, undermined the government’s legitimacy. However, constitutionally two more ministers would need to resign in order for the government to collapse.
The resignations follow Hezbollah demands to control one third of cabinet positions or risk widespread protests. Hezbollah continue to gain strength and re-arm in Southern Lebanon. Some reports suggest that Hezbollah’s arsenal has returned to its pre-war level.
* UN resolution 1701 demands the disarmament of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. However new powers mandated to the bolstered UNFIL force in the region fall short of allowing them to use force to obstruct rearmament.
Shimon Peres MK visits UK
Kadima MK and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres visited London on Tuesday 31st October where he met with Chancellor Gordon Brown. Both men have been long time proponents of the role of economic reconstruction in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During their meeting they discussed Mr Peres’s proposal for an ‘economic zone’ between Israel, Jordan and the Palestine, as well as the UK-led economic initiatives being undertaken at present.
* On 21 September 2005 Gordon Brown commissioned a report into the opportunities to support economic development to accompany and enhance the peace process. The report is being led by Jon Cunliffe and Ed Balls MP.