ISRAEL RAILWAYS BACK DOWN FROM SACKING ARAB WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: june 2009 :: RMTnews 20 A campaign by Arab workers on Israel Railways – backed by solidarity action from RMT – saw some success recently. Israel Railways planned to introduce a new rule that level crossing guards must hold firearms licences. This effectively restricted those jobs to veterans of the Israeli Defence Forces. It was discriminatory against Israeli Arabs because they are exempt from military service and therefore would have been excluded from the jobs. Israel Railways issued 40 Israeli Arab citizens with redundancy notices at the end of March, which were meant to be effective from the beginning of April. However, in what became a protracted legal battle, the Tel Aviv labour court twice suspended the implementation of the workers’ dismissal. Arab member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament), Ahmad Tibi, raised the issue, forcing Israel's transportation minister, Shaul Mofaz, to promise to look into it. Tibi described the Israeli decision as “discriminatory and racist”, and added sarcastically that the company should change its name to “Yisrael Beiteinu Railways”, referring to the party extreme right-wing party which openly calls for expelling Arabs and Palestinians. RMT general secretary Bob Crow wrote to Israel Railways in April condemning the decision. He also wrote to the Israeli Ambassador, Ron Prosor, calling on the Israeli government to intervene to end the injustice, pointing out that Israel Railways’ actions contradicted the country’s Employment (Equal Opportunities) Act. “The position of Israel Railways as a government company puts an onus on the Israeli government to avoid national/racial discrimination, given Israel’s status as a binational state and its professed commitment to racial equality,” He wrote. “While my trade union would hope that the judiciary will take a principled decision and not back prejudice and racial exclusion, I believe that the best outcome would be for Israel Railways to decide for itself to drop the proposal to dismiss these Arab workers or, failing that, for your government to instruct Israel Railways to do so.” Bob Crow added. The letter was followed up with an RMT demonstration on May 11 outside the Israeli Embassy in London. A leaflet distributed by the union stated: “We believe that solidarity from around the world can persuade Israel Railways not to go ahead with this attack on jobs and on equal rights.” Just over a week after the demonstration RMT received a letter from the Israeli Embassy. The letter quoted from a recent statement by Israel Railways. “In light of the sensitivity of this decision, and following a meeting between Israel Railways representatives and the commissioner of equal opportunity at work, Israel Railways has agreed alternative, equivalent eligibility criteria for those who did not do service in the IDF, thereby opening application to all. ”In addition, it has been decided that anyone who has worked in the position of look- out for more than 12 months will be exempt from the eligibility requirements,” the statement from Israel Railways said. RMT will be watching developments on this and taking further solidarity action if necessary. ISRAEL RAILWAYS BACK DOWN FROM SACKING ARAB WORKERS Bob Crow with a letter for the Israeli Ambassador outside the Israeli embassy