Precarious work is a concern for trade unionists everywhere.  And many unions find it hard to grapple with the issue.  Many union members don’t see the point of struggling in support of people who are typically not themselves union members.

In the last few days the Histadrut waged a massive general strike demanding that the government reduce the number of contract workers.  It was a militant and important fight and to a certain degree, the Histadrut won.

Unions outside of Israel who sometimes think about boycotting the Histadrut should instead be working closely with it not only to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace, but also to share experiences of struggles that are relevant to trade unionists everywhere - such as the fight against precarious labour.

The full text of the Histadrut statement summarizing what it won is available here in English.