A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Independent Trade Union Coalition Conference

Historic Conference for New Democratic and Independent Trade Union Coalition in Palestine Begins July 27, 2007

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Wajih Elayassa
Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine
Mobile: 0599 648546

Ramallah, July 27, 2007: Democratic and independent trade unions and workers’ committees representing more than 50,000 female and male workers in Palestine gathered on Friday morning at an opening ceremony at the Ramallah Cultural Palace to begin a historic two-day conference to establish a new labor coalition.

Financial Sector Employee Association President, Abdel Hakim Alayan, addressed the crowd on behalf of the new coalition: “Democracy is a basic component of a genuine union movement. This coalition will light a candle in the dark of divisions and will lead us to the light of unity. It will be the cornerstone of rebuilding civil society which ultimately will contribute to the democratization of Palestinian society.”

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.

Hasan Barghouthi, DWRC General Director, noted: “One of the main challenges for this coalition will be to learn from the history of union movement so that we don’t repeat past mistakes. Until now, Palestinian labor federations have been largely controlled by political factions but with no influence on politics.”

Ahmad Tawfiq, Director of Labor Relations at the Palestinian Ministry of Labor stated:  “We assert to you that Ministry of Labor supports you. I know all of you and know that you are democratic and genuine professional and independent trade unions with leadership elected by the grassroots members.”

Saleh Rafat, PLO Executive Committee Member spoke on behalf of National and Islamic Parties: “The trade union movement is suffering from division and bureaucracy and should unite on a democratic basis not in a bureaucratic way from the top down.”
Oxford Trade Union Council representative, Anthony Richardson, traveled from the United Kingdom to attend the conference. “You are the future for the people of this world because we need democracy. I have political opinions, we all do. But I’m not here because my political party put me here, I’m here because my members put me here,” he said.

International and local media are invited to attend a press conference on Saturday July 28 at 11:00 AM at the Rocky Hotel, Ramallah. The new central council and executive committee for the coalition will be announced and the newly elected leaders will make a statement.

Contact: Wajih Elayassa 0599 648546