Bericht über die Gründungskonferenz einer unabhängigen Gewerkschaftsstruktur in Palästina

Independent and democratic workers' committees in the Gaza Strip on their way to establish a new union structure, the Independent Workers' Committees Federation

In the Gaza Strip, independent and democratic workers' committees have decided to establish a new union structure, the Independent Workers' Committees Federation, in order to better coordinate their activities and struggles in the future, and increase their ability to fight for their social and economic rights. Most of these committees were established during the last 3 years by male and female workers in workplaces and places of residence with the Democracy and Workers' Rights Center's assistance, and they count many unemployed workers among their members. All their representatives were elected through democratic and transparent elections. Members and representatives participated in many of DWRC's awareness meetings and training courses during previous years in order to understand their rights and responsibilities, and develop their union skills.

DWRC is now supporting their project of establishing their Independent Workers' Committees Federation. We helped them in organizing four regional conferences in the North, Middle, Khan Younis and Gaza Governorates. During these conferences, they elected their regional leaders and delegates for the general conference, during which the Federation's leaders will be elected and its charter of principles and statutes adopted.

The first conference for the North Governorate workers' committees took place on 22 September 2004 in Beit Lahia, in the Palestinian Popular Folklore Society. 95 delegates had been chosen by the workers' committees to represent their 475 members at this regional conference, and 86 were able to attend the conference. The delegates agreed that the 15 presidents of their workers' committees (among them 5 women) would be representing them at the general conference, as well as 8 delegates whom they elected out of 17 candidates.

Deutsche Zusammenfassung:

Die unabhängigen, demokratischen Arbeiterkomitees im Gazastreifen haben beschlossen eine neue, eigene Gewerkschaftsstruktur zu bilden - die Föderation der unabhängigen Arbeiterkomitees. Enstanden sind diese Komitees alle in den letzten 3 Jahren durch die Unterstützung des DWRC. Alle Wahlfunktionen wurden in demokratischen Wahlen vergeben, die Komitees organisieren in Betrieben, Wohngebieten und unter Erwerbslosen. es wurden vier regionale Konferenzen als Vorbereitung für die Gaza Konferenz organisiert. Auf der ersten dieser vier Konferenzen, für den nördlichen Regierungsbezirk in Beith Lahia vertraten 86 Delegierte die 475 Mitglieder. Neben den 15 Vorsitzenden (darunter fünf Frauen) der nördlichen Komitees wurden noch 8 weitere Delegierte gewählt, die den Bezirk bei der Gazakonferenz vertreten werden. (hrw)