The pro-Hamas wing of the international labour movement is not going to like this one bit.

The Histadrut’s general strike and the concessions it wrung from the Israeli government have won it accolades from across the international labour movement.

This is in spite of the decision by a number of unions - including Britain’s TUC and South Africa’s COSATU - which have called for either  a severing of all ties with the Israeli national trade union center or a review of those ties.

The International Metalworkers Federation (IMF), representing 25 million trade union members in 100 countries, had this to say: “Following a four-day national strike in solidarity with precarious workers organized by the Israel Federation of Trade Unions, Histadrut, thousands of temporary workers will be directly employed and will get better wages. The victory will improve the situation of thousands of public sector workers across the country. Potentially the move may also improve the situation for workers in other sectors. The total number of agency workers amount to 300 to 400 thousand people.”  (Read the full IMF statement here.)

Public Services International (PSI), which represents 20 million public sector workers in 150 countries, wrote: “A four-day general strike by the General Federation of Labour in Israel (Histadrut) ended on 12 February. The strike was held in support of contract workers who earn less and receive fewer benefits than their directly employed colleagues. The strike included all government ministries, local authorities, train, banks, stock exchange, airport, seaports and other public services . . . On February 12, an agreement was finally reached between the Histadrut and the Finance Ministry which defines significant accomplishments for the benefit of the contract workers.”   The full PSI statement is here.

UNI Global Union, which represents 20 million workers in 900 different unions, declared: “UNI Global Union congratulated Israeli trade union federation Histadrut on its win of direct employment and other improvements for thousands of contract workers after a four-day general strike that included all government ministries, local authorities, train, banks, stock exchange, airport, seaports and other public services.”  The full text of the UNI statement is here.

The 12-million member Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) said in a statement: “An agreement was finally reached with the Finance Ministry which determines significant accomplishments for the benefit of the contract workers.”  The full statement from BWI is here.