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Conference in Palestine for Independent Trade Unions
Establishing Conference for the Coalition of Independent and Democratic Trade Unions & Workers' Committees in Palestine July 25, 2007
Jumana Dabis
Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center
External Relations
Office: 02 295 2608, extension 210
Mobile: 0599 682 612
Email: extr@dwrc.org
Ramallah, July 25, 2007: Democratic and independent trade unions in the Palestinian territories representing more than 50,000 female and male workers will gather on Friday July 27, 2007 for a two-day conference to establish a new labor coalition.
“The creation of a democratic labor coalition represents the biggest social movement in the history of union activism in Palestine,” noted Rafat Musa, President of the Public Health Services Union.
In light of the current political violence and polarization, and in response to the growing economic crisis in the Palestinian territories, democratic and politically independent unions in Palestine have decided to join together in order to make their voices heard. The main goal of this conference, hosted by the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, is to strengthen the representative and negotiating power of the independent trade union movement in order to represent the will of Palestinian workers.
“In establishing a democratic coalition, we want to end the dominance of the two largest political parties, Fatah and Hamas over trade unions, so that we can effectively address the deteriorating economic situation in Palestine. We do not want to replace or compete with existing trade unions and we welcome the unification of all trade unions under the umbrella of one federation based on democratic elections, not appointment by political factions,” said Muhamad Abu Zeid, representative of the Palestinian Federation of University Professors and Employees Trade Unions.
“Our aim is to protect the rights of workers in Palestine, to influence legislation that impacts workers and eventually to influence political decision-making bodies. We feel social responsibility toward all people in Palestine, and seek to use our collective power to affect economic decisions,” added Rafat Musa, President of the Public Health Services Union.
The conference will begin with an opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 27, 2007 at the Ramallah Cultural Palace with 800 attendants. Confirmed speakers include: Samir Adballah, Minister of Labor; Saleh Rafat, PLO Executive Committee Member; Hasan Bargouthi, General Director of the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center; and Abdel Hakin Alayan, President of the Financial Sector Employees Association on behalf of the Coalition.
Conference proceedings will start at 15:00 at the Rocky Hotel, Ramallah, with the election of the coalition's executive council by 180 elected union delegates, followed by the discussion and adoption of a constitution and internal regulations.
International and local media are invited to attend the opening ceremony on Friday morning and the press conference Saturday at 11:00 at the Rocky Hotel, Ramallah.
Simultaneous translation between Arabic and English will be available at the opening ceremony and press conference.
The following local unions will participate as active members in the conference:
- General Union of Electricity Sector Workers in Palestine
- Financial Sector Employees’ Association
- Local Authority Workers’ Federation
- Palestinian Telecommunication and Information Technology Trade Union
- Palestinian Federation of University Professors and Employees Trade Unions, and member trade unions
- Federation of Higher Education College Workers
- Association of Employees in Pharmaceutical Industries - Palestine
- Health Services Employees Union
- Emergency Medical Service Union
- Palestinian Allied Health Professionals Association
- Palestinian Nursing Council
- Workers Committees in Private Hospitals (Sheikh Zayed hospital committee, Holy Family hospital, Hebron Al-Ahli hospital committee, Caritas hospital workers' committee, Arab Rehabilitation Society workers' committee and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society hospital workers' committee)
- Palestinian Red Crescent Society Workers' Union in the Hebron area
- Kindergarten and Private Schools Union
- Unemployed Workers’ Federation
- Workers' Committee for the Palestinian Farmers' Union
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The Democracy and Workers Rights Centre in Palestine
The Democracy and Workers' Rights Center (DWRC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, not affiliated with any political party. DWRC was established in 1993 by a group of trade unionists, lawyers, academics and political figures in the Palestinian society to defend workers’ rights and promote social justice. Our main office is located in Ramallah and we have a branch office in Gaza. Our mission is to defend workers’ rights, enhance their benefits, raise their awareness of their rights and the mechanisms to defend them, organize them in trade unions on a democratic basis, develop the trade union leaders’ knowledge and skills, enhance participative learning, reinforce their role in influencing policies, conduct studies and researches and strengthen solidarity and networking relations with similar organizations.
- Read more information about DWRC
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The Democracy and Workers' Rights Center in Palestine (DWRC)
Al-Irsal Street, Al-Masayaf compound, P.O. Box 876, Ramallah, Palestine
Tel: 00 972 2 2952608-extension 210
Fax: 00 972 2 2952985
Email: extr@dwrc.org
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