labor

Boycott Israel campaign grows among UK unions, despite Zionist backlash

Asa Winstanley
London
30 November 2011

So many UK trade unions have now passed motions in support of the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions movement that even the often conservative Trades Union Congress has been compelled to change policy.

UK trade unionists put Histadrut under review; victory declared over Agrexco liquidation

Submitted by Maureen Clare Murphy on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 00:19

Two significant milestones in the Palestinian-led movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) were marked this week with a vote by the UK’s Trades Union Congress to reconsider its ties with Israel’s national trade union federation, and with the confirmation that boycott target Agrexco was ordered into liquidation.

Swedish chain kicks out drink machines made in Israeli settlements

Stephanie Westbrook
29 August 2011

Popular Sodastream products directly benefit the largest Israeli settlement colony in the occupied West Bank. Meanwhile the company exploits Palestinian factory workers and attempts to “greenwash” its profit from Israel’s occupation.

US trade unionists support Palestinian call for military sanctions on Israel

Submitted by nora on Sat, 07/16/2011 - 01:36

Following last week’s call by Palestinians for immediate military sanctions on Israel, “similar to that imposed against apartheid South Africa in the past,” US trade union members released a statement announcing full support of the call, BDS, and the right of return.

Independent trade unions in Egypt endorse BDS

Submitted by nora on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 21:59

The Egyptian Independent Union Federation affirmed solidarity with the Palestinian people and upheld a commitment to “reject any form of normal relations” with Israel, including gas supply agreements that have been in place since Mubarak was empowered.

Palestinian trade union movement forms historic BDS coalition

Submitted by Maureen Clare Murphy on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 20:18

The first ever Palestinian trade union conference for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel was held in Ramallah last week on 30 April. A historic formation was made at the conference with the establishment of the Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS) — the largest coalition of the Palestinian trade union movement.

Long struggle ahead for Palestinian workers

Submitted by Maureen Clare Murphy on Mon, 05/02/2011 - 17:15

Yesterday marked International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day and Labor Day. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has issued two statements related to this annual commemoration. The first outlines Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ right to work, and the other condemns the Interior Ministry in Gaza’s banning of an assembly of workers to mark International Workers’ Day.

 

On Israel’s labor rights violations:

Histadrut: Israel's racist "trade union"

Tony Greenstein
9 March 2009

Histadrut has always been a strange creature. In most countries one joins a trade union which is affiliated to a national trade union federation. In Israel one first joins Histadrut and then one is allocated to a union. It is only outside Israel that Histadrut is seen as a normal trade union, the Israeli equivalent of the British Trade Union Congress or the American union movement AFL/CIO. Less well known is the fact that Histadrut, an organization of the settler Jewish working class, was the key Zionist organization responsible for the formation of the Israeli state. Tony Greenstein looks at Histadrut’s role in the oppression of the Palestinian people.
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