Unions working for Israel

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DESPITE significant global trade union animosity towards Israel, the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) reiterated his organisation’s support for Israel at the Zionist Federation of Australia’s biennial conference on the weekend.

One of Australia’s most prominent unionists, Paul Howes was keynote speaker at the Melbourne event, attended by representatives of Zionist organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

“I am proud to join you here because, like you, I am a firm supporter of the State of Israel,” the union leader said. “I believe that the Jewish people have a right to a homeland. No ifs, no buts,” Howes continued.

Concrete steps the AWU is taking towards Middle East peace include supporting the development of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and bolstering trust building measures by Israeli and Palestinian unionists.

Howes talked about the importance of the joint United States, United Kingdom and Australian initiative, Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine, to counteract the boycott divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

“The majority of unions are with Israel,” Howes said, surprising many in the audience.

He added that the International Trade Union Conference, now led by Australian Sharan Burrow, rejected attempts to label Israel an apartheid state and praised an agreement between the Histadrut and PGFTU to secure labour rights for Palestinian workers.

“Most importantly,” the young unionist added, “in a stunning blow to BDS activists in some unions, the Israeli national trade union centre, the Histadrut, was honoured by the global trade union movement.”

Howes also reassured the Jewish community that none of the speakers at a forthcoming Australian BDS conference are significant local union leaders.

“That should give you an indication of the status and importance of the Melbourne meeting, at least as far as Australian unions are concerned,” he said.

The 44th ZFA conference tackled issues concerning the community, with the growing BDS movement a key focus.

In addition to being addressed by Howes, attendees were divided into groups to brainstorm counter actions in different sectors, from campus life to politics, business to the media.

The challenges facing the Zionist movement were also examined in a panel discussion that included outgoing chairperson of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students Liam Getreu, Zionist Council of Victoria (ZCV) president Dr Danny Lamm and previous ZCV president Johnny Baker.

The conference concluded with elections, in which president Philip Chester was returned, and former Bialik College vice-principal Michael Cohen was appointed chairman of education.

DALIA SABLE