The afternoon session began with a choice of workshops - BDS or Trade Union links and delegations. I went to the latter, led by Kevin Brown, FBU Regional Secretary.
Kevin had been part of the FBU delegation to Palestine and introduced their video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgGT6PrTmAo
He described witnessing the awful expeiences of Palestinian workers, being teargassed at a community protest against the apartheid wall and being threatened at gunpoint by Israeli settlers and soldiers. They met Palestinian fire fighters and saw and heard of their difficulties doing their jobs in an occupied country.
The delegation felt obliged to report their experiences to their members and debate with those who had reservations about it, noting that they had seen no anti-semitism at all from the Palestinian people.
They had sought to make contact with Hamas in Gaza, as they were the local administration, but felt it was essential to work through the PGFTU.
There was some debate about what we should be doing within the unions, with one delegate asking for trade union support to remove Hamas from the list of terrorist organisations. My own view was that it's right to defend the right of Palestinians to democratically elect their own government, even if we dont support them (I do not support Hamas myself, and their atacks on the PGFTU in Gaza is reason enough for that). But to build support for the palestinians within the trade unions we really had to be relating to palestinian trade unionists in the PGFTU.
I also felt it helped to make connections between our workplace and professions and those in Palestine. Workers in mental health, for example, could understand the unfair differences between prestigous conferences being organised in Israel while clinician's from the West Bank where denied travel pemits to conferences in Gaza last year, before the Gaza Community Mental Health Centre was itself blown up by the Israeli's.
A delegate who had been part of the Viva Palestina! convoy herself http://www.vivapalestina.org/ noted that there were practical difficulties with this sometimes, in her experience you had to relate to whoever you found was operating and organising on the ground. Kevin noted too that the PGFTU didn't organise public sector workers in the west bank, who under Jordanian employemet law were outside its scope.
An NUJ delegate also showed disturbing pictures drawn by palestinian children, illustrating their own trauma. It was important to them to know the outside world had seen their drawings and understood their distress.
The final plenary was addressed by Hugh Lanning, the Deputy General Secretary of the PCS Union and a representative of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign www.palestinecampaign.org/
Hugh said the question we had to ask ourselves was what are we going to do next? Within the unions, as within society, perceptions had shifted decisively from taking a 'balanced' position to one of clear solidarity with the Palestinians. They had three suggestions
1. Build a mass movement - including more individual and branch affiliations to the PSC. This could also mean more conferences like this throughout the country.
2.Change UK policies, including the EU favoured trading status for Israel. The European elections were a forum to raise this, and he noted the rapid growth of Labour Friends of Palestine too within the governing party.
3. Build a mass boycott. The question was what could each union do, it wasn't about being prescriptive to them. The important thing was to think what was the next step. We could make our own choices, but do something, don't do nothing.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Trade Union Palestinian Solidarity Conference (morning session)
I attended this conference in Liverpool yesterday, organised by Merseyside Trade Union Council and Liverpool Friends of Palestine, as a delegate from Sefton Trade Union Council. See http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0904/palconfrep1.html for a full transcript of the morning session.
There were between 50-60 delegates from across the North West, with a creche provided by the organisers and middle eastern food provided for lunch by the local muslim community.
The morning session was opened and chaired by Steve Farley, chair of the North West TUC and was then addressed through an interpreter by Manawell Abdel-Al, from the executive of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU).
He noted that the PGFTU has to operate within three different employment legislation - Israeli, Jordanian in the West Bank, and the Palestinian government. This created practical and political difficulties, for instance in illegally occupied East Jerusalem where Palestinians do not recognise Israeli law.
A further organising difficulty was created by the destruction of the Palestinian economy, with unemployment at 30% in the West Bank and 50% in Gaza.
Then there was the racist, apartheid wall, which separated many people's workplace from their communities and family homes, meaning either long and impossible daily journeys when checkpoints are closed, or having to choose between work and home.
He unequivocally condenmed the attack on Gaza and brought a simple request to the conference - to boycott Israeli products and oppose policies that affect all Palestinians. Such actions, like those taken recently by South African Dockers who refused to handle Israeil goods, had 'lifted all their spirits'.
Here in the North west specifically he is aware of Veilloa bidding for waste contracts. This is the same company involved in projects connecting illegal settlements in the west bank to Israel proper. They lie that this involves helping palestinian villages - he lives in one of these villages himself and can confirm they receive no help from them at all.
Questions were asked about Palestinian workers in Israel (so called 'Israeli Arab's) - Manawell confirmed they suffered from discriminatory laws and practices); should we boycott the Histadrut ? - he had no hesistation supporting this. The PGFTU had an agreement with them to get their money back, but the Histadrut supported the attack on Gaza and one of its former leaders led the war on Lebannon.
Questions were also asked about the internal political situation, and he noted that Hamas is not represented on the PGFTU's executive. It has its own 'Islamic Trade Union' and before they talk about mergers he felt even this name was a problem - trade unions surely had to be for all workers, regardless of their religion. Hamas had taken control of the PGFTU offices in Gaza and then the Israeli's destroyed them. But the PGFTU has its own offices elsewehere in Gaza now and continues to organise.
A photo journalist from Gaza then presented an eyewitness report and was followed by Brian Campsfield, the Deputy General Secretary of NIPSA, Northern Ireland's biggest union.
Brian talked about how they had built support for the Palestinian's within the union and within a divided society, where the issue was often 'sectarianised'. He was involved with the Trades Councils who organised the protests for Gaza in Belfast and Derry. In answer to a question asking if there was comparisons between the Irish and Palestinian liberation struggles he said that the trade unions had not taken this position during the 'troubles' in Ireland, but they had been able to focus on civil rights and stand up for these.
Eamon McMahon from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) then spoke about the work of the Trade Union Friends of Palestine. ICTU November 2007 Palestine delegation report can be found here www.ictu.ie/download/pdf/palestine_final.pdf
Next up was a phone link from Bongani Masuka, the International Secretary of COSATU. He described what was happening in the middle east as the biggest display of Imperialist Aggression in the world. Israel was playing the same role there as the Colombian government in South America. He felt the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Campaign (BDS) was essential.
There were between 50-60 delegates from across the North West, with a creche provided by the organisers and middle eastern food provided for lunch by the local muslim community.
The morning session was opened and chaired by Steve Farley, chair of the North West TUC and was then addressed through an interpreter by Manawell Abdel-Al, from the executive of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU).
He noted that the PGFTU has to operate within three different employment legislation - Israeli, Jordanian in the West Bank, and the Palestinian government. This created practical and political difficulties, for instance in illegally occupied East Jerusalem where Palestinians do not recognise Israeli law.
A further organising difficulty was created by the destruction of the Palestinian economy, with unemployment at 30% in the West Bank and 50% in Gaza.
Then there was the racist, apartheid wall, which separated many people's workplace from their communities and family homes, meaning either long and impossible daily journeys when checkpoints are closed, or having to choose between work and home.
He unequivocally condenmed the attack on Gaza and brought a simple request to the conference - to boycott Israeli products and oppose policies that affect all Palestinians. Such actions, like those taken recently by South African Dockers who refused to handle Israeil goods, had 'lifted all their spirits'.
Here in the North west specifically he is aware of Veilloa bidding for waste contracts. This is the same company involved in projects connecting illegal settlements in the west bank to Israel proper. They lie that this involves helping palestinian villages - he lives in one of these villages himself and can confirm they receive no help from them at all.
Questions were asked about Palestinian workers in Israel (so called 'Israeli Arab's) - Manawell confirmed they suffered from discriminatory laws and practices); should we boycott the Histadrut ? - he had no hesistation supporting this. The PGFTU had an agreement with them to get their money back, but the Histadrut supported the attack on Gaza and one of its former leaders led the war on Lebannon.
Questions were also asked about the internal political situation, and he noted that Hamas is not represented on the PGFTU's executive. It has its own 'Islamic Trade Union' and before they talk about mergers he felt even this name was a problem - trade unions surely had to be for all workers, regardless of their religion. Hamas had taken control of the PGFTU offices in Gaza and then the Israeli's destroyed them. But the PGFTU has its own offices elsewehere in Gaza now and continues to organise.
A photo journalist from Gaza then presented an eyewitness report and was followed by Brian Campsfield, the Deputy General Secretary of NIPSA, Northern Ireland's biggest union.
Brian talked about how they had built support for the Palestinian's within the union and within a divided society, where the issue was often 'sectarianised'. He was involved with the Trades Councils who organised the protests for Gaza in Belfast and Derry. In answer to a question asking if there was comparisons between the Irish and Palestinian liberation struggles he said that the trade unions had not taken this position during the 'troubles' in Ireland, but they had been able to focus on civil rights and stand up for these.
Eamon McMahon from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) then spoke about the work of the Trade Union Friends of Palestine. ICTU November 2007 Palestine delegation report can be found here www.ictu.ie/download/pdf/palestine_final.pdf
Next up was a phone link from Bongani Masuka, the International Secretary of COSATU. He described what was happening in the middle east as the biggest display of Imperialist Aggression in the world. Israel was playing the same role there as the Colombian government in South America. He felt the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Campaign (BDS) was essential.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
We're Back
So we're back now, having missed out reporting on everthing that's hapened since last summer. Maybe I need sunshine to inspire blogging that can otherwise very quickly seem like homework!
Those happenings would include some small, but productive meetings of Sefton Trade Union Council with guest speakers from campaigns like this http://www.mrsn.org.uk/letthemwork/index.html ; and our free public film showing of this
http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php , testing the water for eco-socialism on the Sefton coast.
The war on Gaza brought masses of people onto the streets, including in Liverpool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0WgaiRn1o , and inspired our Trade Union Palestinian Solidarity Conference (see next post)
The Unite General Secretary Election election, where a rank and file candidate almost caused a shock http://jerryhicks.wordpress.com/ also followed from the oil refinery protests which sparked a bit of a debate on the left. My own view is that 'British Jobs for British workers' was only ever a cynical politicians slogan. I am pleased of the work our comrades did to make this an issue of decent jobs with union agreements for everyone, and marched with Unite on the streets of Liverpool for this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7956612.stm
I didnt get to Put People First in London, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UjPt4wmiU having a previous engagement with our fraternal friends in the North West TUC, so had to settle for the T-Shirt instead http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk/2009/03/put-people-first-t-shirts-from-philosophy-football-now. From experience I was not surprised about the police assaults on protesters and bystanders with tragic consequences later in that week. Seeing it on the news is a surprise though and lets hope for justice and accountability over this too.
We keep on keeping on with Keep Our NHS Public and its advantage local democray against the PFI scam http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0904/royal2.html
I'm reading the very excellent Naomi Klein book 'The Shock Doctrine' at the moment, this recession is a scary time and collective organisation has never been more important.
Those happenings would include some small, but productive meetings of Sefton Trade Union Council with guest speakers from campaigns like this http://www.mrsn.org.uk/letthemwork/index.html ; and our free public film showing of this
http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php , testing the water for eco-socialism on the Sefton coast.
The war on Gaza brought masses of people onto the streets, including in Liverpool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0WgaiRn1o , and inspired our Trade Union Palestinian Solidarity Conference (see next post)
The Unite General Secretary Election election, where a rank and file candidate almost caused a shock http://jerryhicks.wordpress.com/ also followed from the oil refinery protests which sparked a bit of a debate on the left. My own view is that 'British Jobs for British workers' was only ever a cynical politicians slogan. I am pleased of the work our comrades did to make this an issue of decent jobs with union agreements for everyone, and marched with Unite on the streets of Liverpool for this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7956612.stm
I didnt get to Put People First in London, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UjPt4wmiU having a previous engagement with our fraternal friends in the North West TUC, so had to settle for the T-Shirt instead http://www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk/2009/03/put-people-first-t-shirts-from-philosophy-football-now. From experience I was not surprised about the police assaults on protesters and bystanders with tragic consequences later in that week. Seeing it on the news is a surprise though and lets hope for justice and accountability over this too.
We keep on keeping on with Keep Our NHS Public and its advantage local democray against the PFI scam http://www.labournet.net/ukunion/0904/royal2.html
I'm reading the very excellent Naomi Klein book 'The Shock Doctrine' at the moment, this recession is a scary time and collective organisation has never been more important.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Bickerstock
Although I come originally from a place in between two big cities, I have to confess to picking up a few metropolitan prejudices along the way.
When I heard that there was a festival in the Lancashire village of Bickerstaffe this weekend, a passing thought of locals with pies and pitchforks who dont like strangers in these parts did come to mind.
Well shame on me. As the name suggests 'Bickerstock' is an open minded and welcoming event, which must be encouraging for creative personalities in the village. http://www.bickerstock.org/index.html
Anyone who can play an instrument there seems to take part, adding to the community participation feel, while some really decent bands make up the line up.
Highlights on saturday for me was Jim Holmes, and Sunday 'Northern Daze', though that just perhaps highlights my own tastes, with a Levellers cover reminding me of hearing the original in another field 15 years ago now.
And speaking of Levellers, it seems that the village itself was a centre of dissent back in the day, with the Quakers having large local support in the 17th century. Who would have guessed that?
Saturday, 26 July 2008
For Peace & Ecology
So, on to the latest counter-cultural celebrations, saturdays Peace & Ecology festival organised by Merseyside CND. http://www.laycock.uklinux.net/mcnd/
This was the second annual event of its kind, more of a gathering of progressive activists and their stalls with live background music, and sun too which was a result. Lots of peace groups and environmentalists, naturally, and international solidarity campaigns were well represented too.
And from my perspective particuarly pleasing to see the Keep Our NHS Public campaign established as a local presence.
Curiuosly no trotskyist left or trade union stalls - I'm not complaining about the absence of the former, though the non-trotskyist socialist groups are fairly idiosyncratic too. Maybe we should do something about the latter next year as local FBU and TGWU regions did fund and sponsor the event, as did Liverpool Trades Council
There were also more christian peace groups than I expected. This is perhaps explained by the very moving location this year. St Luke's in the city centre is the ruins of a church hit by a bomb in WW2, and is both grand and peaceful in itself; a real place of reflection which is usually left to people down on their luck drowning their sorrows away.
What the average city centre shoppers who stumbled across us makes of this I don't really know. But there was enough of an atmosphere not to care too much, and to relax and think only about the important things in life for a change.
This was the second annual event of its kind, more of a gathering of progressive activists and their stalls with live background music, and sun too which was a result. Lots of peace groups and environmentalists, naturally, and international solidarity campaigns were well represented too.
And from my perspective particuarly pleasing to see the Keep Our NHS Public campaign established as a local presence.
Curiuosly no trotskyist left or trade union stalls - I'm not complaining about the absence of the former, though the non-trotskyist socialist groups are fairly idiosyncratic too. Maybe we should do something about the latter next year as local FBU and TGWU regions did fund and sponsor the event, as did Liverpool Trades Council
There were also more christian peace groups than I expected. This is perhaps explained by the very moving location this year. St Luke's in the city centre is the ruins of a church hit by a bomb in WW2, and is both grand and peaceful in itself; a real place of reflection which is usually left to people down on their luck drowning their sorrows away.
What the average city centre shoppers who stumbled across us makes of this I don't really know. But there was enough of an atmosphere not to care too much, and to relax and think only about the important things in life for a change.
Friday, 25 July 2008
Cut My Pay - No Way! NHS Day of Protest - 18 July 2008
Unite members across the country took part in a day of protest against the NHS pay offer on the 18th July 2008. Workers campaigned around the slogan – ‘Cut my pay - No way!’.
We had a protest outside Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool, perhaps we weren't photogenic enough to make the photo gallery!
http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8633
It's quite simply wrong for public sector workers to take the brunt of the latest recession, when we haven't caused it. Its enough to make people question the point of having a Labour Government, as they have done in Scotland and now most recently in Glasgow East.
The problem we have in England though is that in he absence of a left wing pole of attraction, oppossition to the Labour Government is principally aiding right wing parties. Surely something for those of us on the left to think seriously about
We had a protest outside Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool, perhaps we weren't photogenic enough to make the photo gallery!
http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8633
It's quite simply wrong for public sector workers to take the brunt of the latest recession, when we haven't caused it. Its enough to make people question the point of having a Labour Government, as they have done in Scotland and now most recently in Glasgow East.
The problem we have in England though is that in he absence of a left wing pole of attraction, oppossition to the Labour Government is principally aiding right wing parties. Surely something for those of us on the left to think seriously about
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Salud!
I have some reservations about the possibilities of creating socialism in one country, even if when that country is exotic Cuba. It's at best, a bit contradictory; one the one hand a hereditary dictatorship, on the other the most environmentally sustainable country in the world.
It's also a third/majority world country with a health care system that puts its neighbouring American superpower to shame, as Michael Moores film 'Sicko' highlights. It's for this reason I went to see Salud! on wednesday, a film about Cuban doctors and their international efforts http://www.saludthefilm.net/ns/synopsis.html
Organised by 'Rock Against the Blockade', it wasnt the sort of event to express your doubts. Acknowledging problems with the country's agricultural productivity led to the organisers themselves being heckled with the question 'which side are you on'...
Well I'm sure I'd be on the wrong side of the firing squad myself.
Nonetheless there were some interesting points in the discussion and the film itself is a worthy effort that highlights the humanity of the Cuban's. It also illustrates that political values are a more powerful force than professional ethics. Oppossition to the Cuban doctors missions by the self-interested and wealthy medics in other counties is subtly contrasted to their own altruism.
I wonder how medical students in this country would view it, and picked up a copy to see if we can test this later in the year.
It's also a third/majority world country with a health care system that puts its neighbouring American superpower to shame, as Michael Moores film 'Sicko' highlights. It's for this reason I went to see Salud! on wednesday, a film about Cuban doctors and their international efforts http://www.saludthefilm.net/ns/synopsis.html
Organised by 'Rock Against the Blockade', it wasnt the sort of event to express your doubts. Acknowledging problems with the country's agricultural productivity led to the organisers themselves being heckled with the question 'which side are you on'...
Well I'm sure I'd be on the wrong side of the firing squad myself.
Nonetheless there were some interesting points in the discussion and the film itself is a worthy effort that highlights the humanity of the Cuban's. It also illustrates that political values are a more powerful force than professional ethics. Oppossition to the Cuban doctors missions by the self-interested and wealthy medics in other counties is subtly contrasted to their own altruism.
I wonder how medical students in this country would view it, and picked up a copy to see if we can test this later in the year.
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