Israel / Palestine

We have seen press reports about your struggle with your employer, Israel Railways and of the serious attacks on your members' collective agreements, safety and conditions of employment. We have also been informed that you and two other colleagues have been fined 10,000 NIS by the Labour Court for leading 'illegal' strike action against plans to privatise and 'out-source' your work to sub-contractors, in order to break up your collective contract.

Stratford no.1 branch is submitting this resolution to RMT Women's Conference:

RESOLUTION TO RMT WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: SINDYANNA

We support the work of Sindyanna, the women workers’ cooperative associated with the Workers’ Advice Centre (Maan) in Galilee.

We ask the union to promote its activities and products, and to investigate the possibilities of including Sindyanna products carrying the RMT logo in the union’s range of merchandise.

The RMT recently hosted a Palestine Solidarity meeting following the forming of the 'Patestininan Trade Union Coalition for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions' - PTUC BDS.

The following are extracts from the report compiled by the London Transport Region's Political Officer; Unjum Mirza.

The following resolution submitted by LU Engineering and Jubilee South and amended by the LTRC executive was carried unanimously at the Regional Council meeting on the 24th November.

This region resolves:

Support Palestinian & Israeli Workers:submitted by Stratford No 1 Branch and seconded by Camden No 1 at the Regional Council meeting on the 25th August fell-5 votes Against, 3 votes For and 5 Abstentions.

The following Resolution submitted by TFL No1branch was carried at the Regional Council meeting on 28th July.

This branch fully endorses the PTUC-BDS Statement. We call on the Regional council to endorse and forward to CofE. We also call on the Regional Political Officer to arrange for a Regional Special meeting on the matter inviting a speaker from COSATU among others.

Note:PTUC-BDS Statement is attached to this story.

This resolution, submitted by TfL no.1 branch, was carried unanimously by the July meeting of the Regional Council ...

This LTRC condemns the recent attack on the ships carrying humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

We call upon the RMT to join with the international community to demand that there is an independent enquiry into the incident.

We insist that Israel is not part of this ‘independent’ enquiry, but that they have an enquiry of their own.

Circular number: NP/92/09/AG

Dear Colleague,

RMT members recently showed solidarity with foreign rail workers by demonstrating in support of 40 Israeli Arab citizens sacked by Israel Railways following the Company’s decision to impose discriminatory conditions of employment [pictured].

MEMBERS OF Britain’s largest rail union, RMT, will be taking a protest over the dismissal of 40 Israeli Arab rail workers to the steps of the Israeli Embassy at 1pm on Monday 11th May.

The protest will draw attention to the decision of Israel Railways to change its employment terms so that only Israeli army veterans will now be employed as lookouts at level crossings to prevent collisions between trains and vehicles. The current Arab workforce are exempt from national service and as a consequence have now been handed redundancy notices by Israel Railways.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow has sent the following letter to the Israeli ambassador. ...

April 27 2009

His Excellency Ron Prosor Israeli ambassador to the Court of St James 2 Palace Green London W8 4QB

Dear Mr Prosor

I refer to the matter of 40 Israeli Arab citizens who were handed redundancy notices on Sunday March 29, effective from the beginning of April, following the decision of Israel Railways to change its employment terms.