Israeli trade union leader speaks to AWU National Conference
05 February 2009
The Australian Workers' Union supports the growth of co-operative projects between unions in Israel and Palestine, to build trust and confidence between all parties, as part of the peace-building process.
" These projects point the way to a better life for working people in this region, " AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes said before showing a video from the Israeli national trade union centre, The Histadrut, at the AWU National Conference.
The AWU has a long and strong relationship with the Israeli trade union movement.
| Ofer Eini message to AWU |
" Our union has opposed recent efforts, by some in the global trade union movement, to isolate The Histadrut, and expel it from global union organizations," Mr Howes said.
" We don't believe a union campaign to boycott Israel helps advance the peace process.
" The national union centres in Israel and Palestine have made important, if tentative, steps to build co-operative , working alliances under the auspices of global union federations such as the International Transport Workers Federation."
In recent weeks some union voices have re-invigorated a campaign against The Histadrut, calling for a boycott and giving the Israeli unions no place in international union meetings.
The Histadrut sent the video to the AWU after Ofer Eini, the leader of the Israeli national trade union centre, had to pull out of attending the AWU national conference in person.
Support union peace-building initiatives
" The Australian Workers' Union invited Mr Eini, more than six months ago.
" We admire The Histadrut's nation building traditions, which resonate with the history of our own union," Mr Howes said.
" When we sent the invitation Mr Eini, the chairman of the Histadrut, was eager to come to our conference and then tour Australia meeting union leaders in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
" We had also hoped to explore ways the AWU can support joint Palestinian-Israeli trade union initiatives - such as the joint work done by the transport unions and the construction unions of both Israel and Palestine.
" This invitation went out before the recent Gaza War; and before the general elections were called in Israel. Understandably Mr Eini had to cancel his visit to Australia in recent weeks because of the general election in his country.
" Mr Eini believed his place was in Israel to campaign against Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud whose policies include anti-worker legislation - as well as hostility to the peace process," Mr Howes said.
All electoral matter is authorised by Paul Howes, National Secretary