Trade Union Friends of Israel

“Why trade union cooperation is vital to the peace process and prosperity”

Guest speakers include:

His Excellency Ron Prosor, Israeli Ambassador
Owen Tudor, Head of International Relations, TUC
Avital Shapira-Shabirow, Head of International Department, The Histadrut (Israeli TUC)
Roger Lyons, Chair, Trade Union Friends of Israel

Meeting Room 1, East Wing, The Brighton Centre, Brighton
Tuesday 9 September 2008
12.30pm- 2.00pm,
Light Lunch

R.S.V.P
info@tufi.org.uk

Admittance to conference pass holders only

The message of the landmark agreement between the Histadrut (Israeli TUC) and the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) quickly spread through the TUC Congress last week. Brendan Barber, in his opening speech to conference, congratulated Guy Ryder of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) for mediating between the two federations and praised them for coming together, despite all the difficulties. He said he hoped the agreement would “carve a path that political leaders could now follow”.

The importance of the agreement was reaffirmed by Avital Shapira-Shabirow, head of the Histadrut’s International Department, at TUFI’s TUC fringe event. Mrs Shapira-Shabirow, one of the key representatives during the negotiations, told the gathering of over 70 delegates that the agreement would help Palestinian workers and improve their day-to-day lives, have positive repercussions for the wider ongoing peace process and “pave the way for continuous co-operation”. She said, categorically, that all financial issues between the Histadrut and the PGFTU had been settled with nearly £2 million transferred to the PGFTU in July 2008.

A delegation of British trade unionists has returned from Israel and the Palestinian territories with a commitment to develop links and co-operation between their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts. This comes at a time of increased co-operation between the Histadrut (Israeli TUC) and the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) following from their historic agreement signed in June 2008.

Trade Union Friends of Israel took a delegation of eight senior trade unionists on a five day fact finding mission. This included a tour of Jerusalem, briefings with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sessions with various representatives of Israeli unions and a visit to Ramallah to meet the PGFTU.

Delegates also visited the Alumim youth centre in Kafa Saba for disadvantaged children where they witnessed a rededication to the centre by the current President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Mr James P. Hoffa and a large delegation from the US Unions. His father, Mr Jimmy Hoffa Sr supported the establishment of the centre in the late 1950s with funding from the Teamsters.

Roger Lyons, Chair of TUFI, said: “The improved relationship between the Histadrut and the PGFTU was in full evidence from the briefings we had. It is now important that the UK unions seize the opportunity to develop relations with their sister unions”.

“The fact that any mention of boycott by all parties was absent really demonstrated how far we have come. However, we must not be complacent as there are those who are organised who would like to damage any relationship between Israeli, Palestinian and British trade unions”.