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11 August, 2008
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) last week announced that the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and Israel’s national labour centre, Histadrut, have entered into a landmark agreement to ensure the protection of rights of Palestinian workers employed by Israeli employers.
The accord, based on developing future relations based on negotiations, dialogue, and joint initiatives to advance “fraternity and coexistence between the two peoples,” includes the reimbursement by Histadrut to the PGFTU of union representation fees. Those fees were paid since 1993 by Palestinians working for Israeli employers.
In the future, at least 50% of representation fees paid by Palestinians working in Israel will be transferred to the PGFTU. The Palestinian federation, according to its constitution, will have sole discretion as to how the funds, past and present, will be spent.
The agreement advances on one occurring between the two national centres in 1995. That agreement had been found difficult to implement.
The recent agreement was negotiated under the umbrella of the ITUC, and will be implemented and overseen by a joint committee of the two national centres.
“This agreement is tremendously significant, at a time when the political authorities in Israel and Palestine and the international community are failing to find just and lasting solutions to the political impasse,” stated ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.
Ryder added that the agreement will ensure more effective representation for Palestinian workers, “while those working for Israeli employers will also benefit.”