UNISON, Britain’s public sector union, has just published its quarterly “International Newsletter” and its three items about Israel/Palestine are all examples of positive and constructive engagement.
TUC visits projects in Palestine
Shaher Saed
Nick Crook, UNISON international officer, recently took part in a small TUC delegation to Palestine to see how the TUC-PGFTU (Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions) capacity building projects were being delivered. UNISON is one of the core funders of this work. The delegation was able to sit in on one of the training sessions preparing PGFTU reps for workplace elections. The international committee, at its November meeting, agreed to continue funding this work in 2010.
The delegation also met with Shaher Saed, the general secretary of the PGFTU, who expressed their satisfaction with the TUC’s general council and the FBU resolution on Palestine (seconded by UNISON) which were adopted by TUC Congress in September. In particular he welcomed the decision to call for a boycott of goods produced in the illegal Israeli settlements. In addition, the PGFTU raised with the delegation the issue of lack of enforcement of labour law in the settlements as a key concern.
Bitter Dates: working conditions in the settlements
The Israeli labour rights NGO, Kav La’Oved, which works with the PGFTU on the issue of working conditions in the settlements, has produced a short film about the situation of Palestinians who work in Israeli agricultural settlements in the occupied Jordan Valley. The film, Bitter Dates, documents the appalling conditions faced by the Palestinian workers. A grant from UNISON has enabled the film to be translated into English. The film, which is only 15 minutes long and is ideal for showing at branch or regional meetings, can be found on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTZ2xeSAkM
Supporting olive oil production in Palestine
UNISON’s international committee agreed at its November meeting to make a grant to Zaytoun, the co-operative which sells Palestinian olive oil in the UK. Zaytoun olive oil has also recently been granted Fair Trade status. The production of olives and olive oil is central to Palestinian agriculture and are some of the few products exported. The grant will enable Zaytoun to develop its work with Palestinian olive co-operatives and farmers.
UNISON activists continue to show their support of Zaytoun by buying their products whenever the opportunity arises. At the international seminar in Leeds Zaytoun set up a stall which raised over £400. Zaytoun volunteer Najeeb Rayman said the sale (which lasted no longer than 30-40 minutes of actual sale time) “has set a precedent and benchmark for all future sales! Personally I feel that selling Palestinian produce is a very positive initiative, and helps to reduce dependency, and supports the dignity and livelihoods of the Palestinian population, and the success at the seminar will hopefully spur on further initiatives in Yorkshire.”
If you want to find out more about getting Zaytoun along to one of your events/meetings to sell Palestinian produce (olive oil, olives, herbs, almonds and soap) and hear about their work and how you can support it, contact : http://www.zaytoun.org/