In last months Socialist Resistance we printed the first part of the diary written by supporter Tony Richardson on his travels through the West Bank on behalf of the Oxford/Ramallah friendship society This month we carry some of the interviews that Tony had with Palestinian trade unionists on the trip. R. Musa is Chairman of the General Union of Health Workers, a federation seeking to bring together docLOLS, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dental technicians, the Palestinian Nursing Council and the union for Medical Service Employees.
Musa said
"We are looking to have all people who work in medicine under one umbrella.
"Some of our members are in private medicine, some are working in the government sector. Employees in the public sector have had their wages stopped by the European sanctions which are ostensibly aimed at the government.
"Before the elections, in 2005 we had some strikes, to raise living standards. We got money for risks, and for extra hours - we used to get just 25% for overtime hours.
"There was a lack of staff, people died. They didn't replace people.
"Our strike demanded all these things improved, and we reached agreement with the previous Fateh government., but it was not implemented, and then the new Hamas government did not fulfil the agreement. "But this was clearly because of the sanctions from the US and the European Union. Health workers forced to battle
"We did not take any action for five or six months after the elections, as we did not want it to appear that we were supporting the Western governments. We wanted to prove that if we went on strike it was not a political act.
"Even though we did that, when we did go on strike, after 6 months, the government. said it was a strike from outside.
"We went on strike to demand salaries, not to improve work conditions.
"We got some money, but not everything we were owed. We met with the government and got an agreement to implement the deal; we made with the previous government. "We then got some salaries, but when the time came for them to pay the back pay, in stages, as had been agreed, they could not do it.
"So the strike now goes on for the payment by the new unity governmentt. (formed in Mecca four weeks ago) of our salaries.
"This means that where we were just pressured by one group we are now pressured by all parties.
"We don't want people to be affected, but this is our only democratic way. Some sectors are continuing to work, blood supply people for example.
"Tonight we have a meeting with the Minister of
We are ready to close all public hospitals, including first aid. We had a strike for 100 days, then made an agreement, and called it off. The pressure should go on the governree Alar
Free Alan Palestinian journalists have come out repeatedly alongside the British NUJ and unions around the world to demand the safe release of kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston
ment, because they broke that agreement. "The Deputy Prime Minister says we will get no payments unless we call off the strike, but we will continue, because they want to weaken the unions". Another member of the union said: "In our section of the union we all have to have qualifications, we are committed to the union, and are 80% in favour of the strike, despite the fact that we all have our own party ideologies."
If you are interested in knowing more about this union, which is the only one representing health workers in Palestine, and is one of the new democratic unions, then contact Tony via Socialist Resistance.