Education unions are warning that academic freedom and the professional rights of higher education workers in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza are increasingly under assault as a result of the continuing political conflict in the region.
Unions must work with Israeli and Palestinian colleagues to improve their rights
A new report on working conditions for Palestinian and Israeli academic workers was released this week by Education International and the Canadian Association of University Teachers calling on unions worldwide to work closely with both Palestinian and Israeli colleagues.
“Both Israeli and Palestinian academics are facing greater pressure from outside political influences and from within the academy itself,” says David Robinson, associate executive director of CAUT and author of the report.
The report argues that Palestinian and Israeli scholars, and their unions, have an important role in ensuring the peace process works, and helping build a democratic civic culture.
Most serious violations of basic freedims and rights occur in Palestinian territories
While this report by the global trade union for education workers report finds that it is in the Palestinian territories where the most serious violations of basic freedoms and rights occur - they also outline a crisis for academic workers at Israeli universities.
“There are clear and consistent violations of internationally recognized academic rights as detailed in UNESCO’s 1997 Recommendation Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel.”
The 68 page study, The Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, found that the strong polarization of opinions within Israel over the political conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has generated several prominent academic freedom controversies in recent years.
Israeli universities independence and academic freedom threatened
In addition, proposed changes to the governance of Israeli universities threaten to weaken institutional autonomy and academic freedom.
“Many of the violations of academic freedom in the West Bank and Gaza are a result of the Israeli occupation,” says Robinson.
Israel’s legitimate security concerns and right to defend citizens mustn’t disrupt Palestinian scholars
“Israel unquestionably has legitimate security concerns and has a right and responsibility to defend its citizens.
“ However, as documented in the report, the near complete blockade of the Gaza Strip and the tight travel restrictions imposed on residents within the West Bank go beyond what can be reasonably justified and have seriously disrupted the work of Palestinian scholars.”
Limits on freedom of movement in Palestinian territories and bans on import of vital academic materials
Limits imposed on freedom of movement within the Palestinian territories make it difficult and in many cases impossible for Palestinian academics and students to attend conferences or study abroad, and have forced local universities to shut down early and to close entirely for extended periods.
There are bans on the import of certain research equipment and materials needed to pursue scholarly activities, and many academics face arbitrary arrest and detention by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
Restrictions on academic freedom undermine democratic development and frustrate peace process
The report argues that the restrictions on academic freedom are undermining the democratic development of the West Bank and Gaza and are frustrating the peace process.
But it also cites the violence between Palestinian factions for leaving university workers “caught in the cross-fire of the fighting between Hamas and Fatah.”
Union rights strong in Israel
Union rights are extremely strong in Israel - some of the strongest across the globe. The report notes that Israeli National Labour Court decisions have ruled that employees in Israel have the legal right to strike. In a precedent-setting case, the Court held that an employer had to reinstate workers fired for joining a union and participating in a strike since this violated their constitutional right to freedom of association.
While fundamental labour rights are guaranteed in Israeli law, there are reports that employers frequently flaunt basic legal protections for workers, including minimum wage laws. The report notes that there are isolated reports of violations of trade union rights in the higher education sector.
Israel’s two major academic unions have negotiated automatic dues check-off which guarantees high membership density rates, the report notes.
Labour legislation weak and not enforced in Palestinian territories
Labour legislation is not very well enforced by the Palestinian Authority while there are consisten reports of serious infringements of trade union rights in Gaza following the 2007 takeover of the region by Hamas. The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) reported that its offices in Gaza were attacked and occupied by Hamas. The offices were later destroyed by Israeli forces during the 2008/09 military action.
The Palestinian Federation of University Unions of Professors and Employees (PFUUPE) reports a 68 per cent union density rate a figure high relative to other sectors. The PFUUPE is a member of the the Federation of Independent Unions Palestine established in 2007 as aa break-away group from the main PGFTU who are accused of being undemocratic and too closely aligned to Fatah.
Israeli and Palestinian academics have critical role to play in finding peaceful solutions
“Israeli and Palestinian universities and colleges have a critical role to play in helping find peaceful solutions to the conflict,” says Monique Fouilhoux, deputy general secretary of Education International.
“But they can only do this if their scholars are free to express their views and debate controversial matters without fear of recrimination.”
Academic unions well organised in both Israel and Palestine
The report notes that the academic unions in both Israel and Palestine report high levels of membership density and this relatively high level of organisation provides real opportunities for the development of the civil society in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
In the broader political context, the report notes that Palestinian academic union can help to strengthen independent trade unions and other civil society organizations in the West Bank and Gaza is vital for the long-term democratic development of the Palestinian territories.
While in Israel the academic unions could explore ways to expand and make more effective their affirmative action programs to improve the representation of Arab Israelis in higher education.
Higher education associations and unions worldwide can provide help and expertise
Finally the report recommends ways that higher education associations and unions worldwide should work with and provide expertise and support to Israeli and Palestinian colleagues to help improve their conditions of employment and assert their professional rights as recognized by the UNESCO Recommendation.
Education International is the global union federation representing more than 30 million teachers and education workers in 172 countries and territories.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers represents more than 67,000 academic and general staff at colleges and universities across Canada.