Palestinian Ambassador calls for unions to back two-states
The Palestinian Ambassador to Australia, Izzat Abdulhadi, has said that he wants the trade union movement to mobilise people to continue their support for the Middle East peace process and a two-state solution.
Abdulhadi, who has represented the Palestinian Authority in Australia since 2005, was speaking at the Australian Labor Party national conference on 30 July during an event sponsored by the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and supported by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
The fringe event was called to discuss practical solutions the Australian labour movement could do to support peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel. Other guest speakers included: the President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Iraqi Ambassador to Australia, Ghanim Al Shibli, and the Syrian Ambassador to Australia, Tammam Sulaiman, who was invited to respond to questions from the audience about current issues between Syria and Israel.
Palestinian Solidarity
In Ambassador Abdulhadi’s speech to the audience of more than 200 people, he said that wanted unions to lobby the Australian government to increase aid to Palestine so that viable, efficient, democratic and transparent Palestinian civil society institutions can be developed.
He said the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Workers' Union could support the development of a key sector of Palestinian civil society by regularly bringing Palestinian trade unionists to Australia to undergo leadership training programmes.
International Transport Workers Federation provides a good practical union example
Paddy Crumlin, the national secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, opened the event by showing a short documentary of the current work being done by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). The five minute documentary Spanning the Divide shows how the ITF has brought transport workers together from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the Histadrut to support lorry drivers crossing through Israeli checkpoints. To find out more about the agreement - click here.
Practical solidarity - President of the ITUC, Sharan Burrow
The president of the Australian Council of Trades Unions, Sharan Burrow, told the audience that trade unionists must show they can create practical examples of solidarity between Israelis and Palestinians. She said:
"These practical working models would be a demonstration to all that a peaceful end to the strife between the two peoples can be achieved."
Ms Burrow, who is also the President of ITUC, told stories about her visits to the region where she shared both feelings of fear and optimism with her Palestinian and Israeli trade union sisters and brothers. She praised the purpose of the fringe event: to look at what the labour movement does best:
"To build solidarity because we recognise that a worker is a worker is a worker, who deserved equal treatment in our eyes as they are all brothers and sisters."
"Unions have always been at the forefront of peace and democracy. If we build up trade unions we build up democracy. If we threaten trade unions, tear them down, then we threaten democracy and peace
"If we can build solidarity between unions, first and foremost in this region the PGFTU and the Histadrut - something we have been doing through the work most particularly of the International Transport Workers Federation - then I am sure that trade unions can make a difference
"We now need to look for new ways that unions can provide real practical support for the peace process in the Middle East. I think we need to say we want trade unionists at the table during these peace talks, showing what they can do, showing how we can get a real outcome."
TULIP
The discussions also highlighted the recent creation of a new global labour grouping Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP) which seeks to promote solidarity with both the Israeli trade union movement, the Histadrut, and the Palestinian trade union movement, the PGFTU.
On the floor of the conference two well respected members praised the potential of TULIP. Dr Mike Kelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Parliamentary Secretary for Water, and a former Australian Army lawyer with expertise in peacekeeping missions and occupations, and Warren Mundine, an Indigenous activist and former National President of the ALP, told conference delegates that TULIP was an example of how grass-roots projects involving unions across the Green Line could help to deliver peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
You can read more about the event on the AWU's website.
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