January 13, 2021 by New Unions
While Palestinian workers continue their strike against the Israeli company of Yamit, trade unions around the world are expressing their strongest messages of solidarity with our strikers. The ill-treatment and exploitation of Palestinian workers at Israeli corporations is an integral part of Israel’s entire three-tiered system of oppression: settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation. Yamit practices Israel’s apartheid policy at the micro-level. Our workers’ strike is, therefore, inseparable from the anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle of the Palestinian people. We count on the solidarity and support of trade unions and rights groups around the world to triumph over oppression, injustice, exploitation and apartheid.
Since Palestinians have started their open-ended strike 13 days ago, Yamit company has been trying to force the workers to end their strike without meeting any of their just demands. Digging his own heels in to totally crush the strikers’ rights, yesterday, the CEO and owner of Yamit, Ofer Talmi attempted to replace the striking workers with other 15 workers. He wanted to bring them in and exploit them at the inhumane and dangerous working conditions. Yet, the new Palestinian workers figured out that they are to be used as a tool to trample over the rights of their striking brothers; so, they left the workplace before they even started working.
The employer’s act is an attempt, among other attempts, to break the workers’ will and ensure that his oppression and the maximization of his profits through exploiting them continues. Surely, such acts might dampen the workers’ spirits; but the messages of solidarity voiced so far by trade unions and networks around the world only boost the workers’ morale making them more determined to continue.
Below we present to you the first letters and messages of solidarity and support sent by trade unions from different parts of the world.
Warm thanks from Palestine to the world
The striking workers, on their part, express how they are moved by these letters of solidarity. Khalil Shehab, the head of the workers’ committee leading the strike highlights how significant such statements are for the workers to continue steadfast and not to surrender in this challenging battle against apartheid.
On behalf of himself and the striking workers, Khalil Shehab comments that:
With gratitude, gladness and respect we have received all these letters of solidarity from various parts of the world. These fraternal and comradely statements of support make us feel that we are not alone in this struggle to fulfill our just demands through which we emphasize our humanity.
The support we receive from you and the condemnation of racism and exploitation fills us with more hope to keep up the momentum of our strike until our demands and rights are respected.
I hope that all the other trade unions around the world follow your footsteps and stand up against Israel’s constant and systematic oppression, including Yamit, which subjugates and enslaves us with total impunity because the apartheid regime of Israel represents an inspiration and a protection to it to oppress us.
Mohammed Blaidi, Secretary General of the Palestine New Federation of Trade Unions supporting the striking workers affirms that these letters of solidarity play a tremendously important role in strengthening the strikers. He adds:
The letters of solidarity we have so far received from our brothers and sisters in different trade unions across the world are crucial to pressure the Israeli employer to meet the workers’ demands. Whenever they receive a letter of solidarity, the workers say “we are not alone.”
We can only be powerful through the support of our friends around the world and the unity of trade unions around one major aim: to realize social justice and to end imperialist and colonialist oppression and exploitation not only in Palestine, but also all over the world.
Letters of solidarity:
Until Victory, we will support you!
Thursday, January 7th
In their letter of solidarity, the 30, 000 members of The construction workers’ union in Oslo, Norway, have emphasized their full support to the workers in their struggle against oppression:
To our comrades of the Yamit Sinon factory
The Construction Workers Union in Oslo, Norway, with our 3 000 members, fully support your just struggle for better wages, pensions, paid days off due to illness, and a secure working place.
We have learned about your just struggle from our members who have visited you on earlier solidarity-visits. We have huge sympathy with your fight for basic workers rights. And hope for your victory.
The Construction Workers Union in Oslo condemn the ruthless employer’s unlawful decision not to negotiate. We also condemn the exploitation of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation.
You have our support in your struggle until victory!
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The world is in debt to Palestine
Friday, January 8th
In a statement released on January 8th, LAB, trade union of the Basque Country, have asserted their full solidarity with our strikers stating as a part of a debt they and the world owes to the Palestinian people:
For all this, LAB trade union of the Basque Country we send all our solidarity to the Palestinian workers of the Yamit Sinoun company on strike for decent working conditions. At the same time we demand that the international community does not look the other way in the face of the systematic violation of the most basic rights suffered by the Palestinian people because of the occupation of their land by Israel and the system of apartheid to which the whole of Palestine is subjected. The world owes a debt to Palestine and it is time for all of us to act so that Palestine recovers its land and freedom and can be master of its future. LAB will continue to make this a reality.
Please read full statement here: https://bit.ly/3bzF5Ar
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Wholehearted solidarity with Palestine
Sunday, January 10th
Members of UCU-University and College Union (Scotland) asserted that they fully second the calls for actions voiced by the New Unions to support the strikers and pressure Yamit. In their message of solidarity, they said:
UCU Scotland continues in its wholehearted solidarity with the Palestinian people and their fight for justice and peace. We show solidarity with workers fighting for respect, equality and the right to collective organization.
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No to slavery in Palestine
Monday, January 11th
In its letter of support, the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggles have emphasize that Yamit must respect the workers’ rights and comply with both, labor law and International Law. The ILNSS also affirmed the New Unions’ call that supporting the BDS movement is a necessity to dismantle Israel’s apartheid regime. Therefore, they called for trade unions that organize workers in the multinational companies that work with Yamit to unite to stop their deals with Yamit:
[…] the international community and the International Labor Organization must put pressure on the Israeli authorities and on the management of Yamit so that they respect the negotiated agreements, labor law, fundamental rights of the Palestinians, and international law!
The Israeli company Yamit, which mainly produces filters, and its partner Netafim, which manufactures irrigation equipment, could not survive and commit these crimes without distributing their products internationally, and without the active support of a network of companies and municipalities around the world.
The International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggles asks trade union confederations and unions of these companies to put pressure on their management, on municipalities and on the distribution networks to put an end to these collaborations, as long as Yamit does not respect the terms of the agreement negotiated in November 2020.
We also recall that the Yamit company is located in the militarily occupied Palestinian territories and that such commercial activity is prohibited and illegal there under international law. While many Palestinians have no choice but to work in these companies, they nonetheless call on the international community to boycott the products of the Yamit and Netafim companies, filters and irrigation equipment, in a broader vision aimed at dismantling the Israeli apartheid system.
Please read full statement here: https://bit.ly/3nEGOa2
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Unwavering struggle by the side of Palestinians
Monday, January 11th
Known for its long-standing support of the Palestinian people, the World Federation of Trade Unions has emphasized its solidarity with the striking workers. They also reiterated their support of the just struggle of Palestinians against Israeli occupation in their letter of solidarity:
Palestine: WFTU in solidarity with Palestinian workers of Yamit Sinoun
company
The World Federation of Trade Unions, representing 105 million workers in
132 countries all over the world, expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian
workers in Yamit Sinoun company, in the settlement industrial zone of
Nitzanei Shalom, in Tulkarem, Palestine, who are on strike for ten days.
The workers demand better working conditions, paid holidays and sick
leaves, better wages, and a pension fund that preserves their money. They
struggle against discrimination policies from the Israeli company faced by
Palestinian workers.
The WFTU, the class-oriented international trade union movement, always
by the side of our Palestinian brothers and sisters, supports the workers of
Yamit Sinoun company and all Palestinian workers and we urge all
responsible parties for the immediate fulfillment of the workers’ just demands.
We will continue our unwavering struggle by the side of the Palestinian
workers and People, for the end of the Israeli settlements, for the recognition
of the independent Palestinian state, on the basis of 1967 borders, with East
Jerusalem as its capital and for the protection of the human and working rights
of Palestinian workers, against Israeli aggression and occupation.
The Secretariat
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Fraternal support from Oslo
Monday, January, 11th
On January 11th, The Association of Trade Unions in Oslo, Norway (LO), sent a letter to the striking workers expressing their outrage at the discriminatory practices of Yamit against the workers and support to them. In the letter, they state:
Dear comrades of the Yamit Sinon factory
The Association of Trade Unions in Oslo, Norway, with our more than 100 000 members, fully support your just struggle for better wages, pensions, paid days off due to illness, and a secure working place.
We have followed your just struggle with huge sympathy and condemn the attitude of the ruthless employer’s unlawful decision not to negotiate.
For us, in the Trade Unions of Oslo, this is also another proof of the exploitation of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation.
You have our most fraternal support in your struggle until victory!
The Association of Trade Unions in Oslo
Ingunn Gjerstad Brit Riise Leader Leader of The International Committee
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Stay strong… You are on your feet giving them hell!
Tuesday, January 12th
A comradely letter of solidarity to fuel the workers to continue on striking until they win this battle was sent from the North Lanarkshire Trade Union Council, Scotland. The letter states:
Dear Workers,
We in the North Lanarkshire Trade Union Council want to send you our warmest regards, our greatest respect, and strongest solidarity with you as you continue your strike.
The circumstances you have been placed under by the exploitative employers’ disgusts and appals us and we will do everything within our power to support you and draw attention to your struggle.
Stay strong in your fight. To quote the stalwart British trade unionist:
If you fight you may lose, but at least you are on your feet giving them hell!
Solidarity Comrades, we are with you.
North Lanarkshire Trade Union Council
Ben Lunn (Chair)
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Victory to Palestinian Workers!
Tuesday, January 12th
The Brazilian labor and people’s federation, CSP-Conlutas has stood up in solidarity with the workers in the militant letter they sent to us. They emphasize that they join in Palestinians’ larger struggle against Zionism, the settler colonial project in Palestine embodied in the creation of Israel:
To
Palestine New Federation of Trade Unions
At. General Secretary Mohammad Blaidi
CSP-Conlutas, a Brazilian labor and people’s federation, stands in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are on strike at the Yamit Sinoun factory in Tulkarm industrial settlement in Occupied Palestine.
CSP-Conlutas support all workers’ demands for human-like working conditions, better wages, paid sick leaves, paid holidays and a pension fund that preserves their money.
CSP-Conlutas rejects the racist and apartheid mindset speeches by the Zionist employer Ofer Talmi and joins the global BDS campaign to defeat Zionist Apartheid System.
CSP-Conlutas congratulates all the workers for standing up and fighting back unfair labor practices and racism.
Victory to Palestinian Workers!
From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free!
Source: The Palestine New Federation of Trade Unions
