TUFI July 2007 UPDATE: Boycott Update
NUJ abandons Israel boycott
The National Union of Journalists will take “no further action” on implementing the controversial resolution to boycott Israeli goods and services passed by its members at its conference in April.
The NUJ's National Executive Council (NEC) took the decision on 10th July and called for members to unite instead behind the union’s “key workplace priorities”. It recognised the concerns expressed by some members and branches about the proposed boycott and said that it had met the terms of the original delegate vote in favour of the boycott at its annual meeting earlier this year, by informing the TUC of the conference vote.
UCU Update
A Populus poll of UCU members, commissioned by the Fair Play Campaign Group, which includes TUFI, was published in early July. 500 regular members were polled at 200 institutions, both universities and further education colleges. It includes a number of key findings:
75% of UCU members of those who have an opinion on the issue oppose a boycott.
81% of members believe that as ballot of all UCU members is the best way to make a decision on a boycott
87% of members would support such a membership ballot if the General Secretary, Sally Hunt, called one.
United States labour leaders attack the boycott of Israel by UK unions
U.S. labour leaders are denouncing British union support for a boycott of Israel. Their response comes in the wake of a decision by several unions, including the Transport and General Workers Union, to back economic, cultural and academic boycotts of Israel in protest against “the treatment of the Palestinian people.”
The statement said that “any just and fair resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be brought about through meaningful negotiations between their elected representatives...”. “Trade Unionists and their organisations seeking such a just and fair resolution should be assisting those working to bring the two sides together in direct talks and then negotiations. In this regard, we call for increased engagement of trade unions with their counterparts on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
“Engagement, rather than disengagement with the Israeli and Palestinian people is needed.. we offer our support to assist trade unionist as well as interested members of the community-at-large who are grappling with these matters and who share our concern over the simplistic and non-constructive approaches”.
The statement has been endorsed by the presidents of the AFL-CIO; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; United Food and Commercial Workers; Communications Workers of America; Masters, Mates and Pilots / ILA; American Postal Workers Union; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; UAW; American Federation of School Administrators; Office and Professional Employees International Union; American Federation of Government Employees; UNITE-HERE; United Mine Workers of America; Sheet Metal Workers International Association; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Transportation Communications Union; American Federation Musicians; Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union; the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Also endorsing the effort are the presidents of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
In addition, the US House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution on 11th July condemning a British call to boycott Israeli universities.
Other Trade Union News
The Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) under attack
The PGFTU, with which TUFI have had a long standing relationship with, have come under attack within Gaza from opposition forces.
A statement released by the PGFTU leadership said “the circle of continuous violations taking place in the Gaza Strip after Hamas plot against legitimacy, and after occupying a PGFTU main branch in Gaza, a group of gunmen on the 17th July 2007, have attacked the PGFTU office in Gaza and Khan Younis , occupying them and stealing everything inside. They asked the trade unionists to appear before this outlaw force for interrogation”.
Shaher Sae'd, the General Secretary of PGFTU condemned this attack, considering it as a blatant violation against union freedoms, democracy and diversity. He added that the Palestinian workers are not only facing an outside siege but they are also facing an inside siege used against them by Hamas military force, at a time when the workers are in great need for humanitarian assistance, medical care and social protection.
He stressed that Hamas has only brought to them more poverty and increased unemployment whilst ignoring their rights and freedoms. Therefore, the PGFTU is appealing to the International Community, ALO, ILO, ITUC, ICATU and friendly federations to make their efforts to secure the life of the unionists and to evacuate the branches of PGFTU to enable our unionists to serve the workers, their families and children.
Trade Union Friends of Israel have sent a message of solidarity and support to Shaher and his organisation.
Other Middle East News
Olmert and Abbas meet in Jerusalem
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem on Monday 16th July and promised to speed up the release of 250 prisoners.Israel will free 250 low-security Palestinian prisoners, mostly from Abbas’ Fatah faction, as early as Friday, and agreed to suspend the arrest of 178 Fatah gunmen to show support for the PA in the West Bank and encourage peace talks with Abbas.
In return the PA will continue to disarm militias in the West Bank, and has convinced the 178 wanted men to sign commitments renouncing terrorism and giving up their arms. The highest profile name on the list is Zakariya Zubeidi, head of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin.
Olmert and Abbas discussed a range of issues including prisoner release and the possible resumption of final status talks in a one-to-one meeting lasting for an hour. Olmert and Abbas agreed to meet again in two weeks, most likely in the West Bank town of Jericho, which would be the first meeting of the two men on Palestinian territory.
The IDF announced on 16th July that it has begun scaling back arrest raids of Palestinian terror suspects in the West Bank in another move designed to help Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
The new decision, which went into effect last week, means every raid will now require direct approval from the senior army command and is intended to dramatically reduce the number of such operations.
Rice delays visit to region to follow talks with Blair
The State Department announced late last week that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would delay her visit to Middle East until the end of the month, when she is expected to arrive with former British Prime Minister and Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair.
Rice was expected to begin her trip on Monday 16th July, but will instead meet up with Blair, the newly appointed special envoy of the Quartet, in Lisbon later in the week to map out the latest strategy in trying to bring peace to the Middle East. Rice is then expected to join Blair’s efforts towards reviving peace talks with an intensive round of diplomacy later this month.