An Israeli employer of Palestinians inside a West Bank settlement, with the help of Israeli authorities, is exploiting the military permit regime in order stop his workers from unionizing, a High Court petition alleges.
Employees at the Zarfati Garage in Mishur Adumim vote to strike on July 22, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Ma’an workers union)
In order to sabotage the unionization of Palestinian workers, the owner of an Israeli car garage filed a false police complaint against one of the union organizers, a High Court petition filed Monday by the Ma’an Workers Advice Center alleges.
Hatem Abu Ziadeh, the leader of the Palestinian workers at Zarfaty Garage, located in the West Bank Mishor Adumim industrial park, had his permit to enter his workplace revoked by the Israel Police and Civil Administration after his employer filed a complaint alleging that he was intimidating other employees, the petition states.
The High Court petition seeks an injunction ordering the Israeli army to reinstate Abu Ziadeh’s permit to enter the Israeli-controlled industrial zone. According to a 2007 High Court decision, the protections of Israeli labor law apply to Israeli businesses operating in the West Bank and their Palestinian employees.
In Depth: A journey into the dark heart of Israel’s permit regime
“This petition is about the improper use of the West Bank permit regime in order to harm the Zarfaty Garage’s employees’ [ability] to organize,” Ma’an wrote in a statement.
Abu Ziadeh has worked at the Zarfaty Garage for 17 years. Ma’an alleges that the police complaint and subsequent revocation of Abu Ziadeh’s permit was an attempt to circumvent labor laws that forbid the dismissal of union leaders in order to stop workers from organizing.
“It is entirely clear that the complaint, on the basis of which the Zarfaty Garage workers’ leader’s permit was revoked, was a false complaint [made] by an interested party, who changed his version of events three times in one week,” a statement by Ma’an said.
The following video report was produced by Israel Social TV earlier this summer, after Zarfaty’s Palestinian employees launched a labor strike.
Related:
The cynical use of Palestinian workers in the SodaStream controversy
Spotlight: The Paris Protocol and the Palestinian economy
WATCH: Palestinians workers attempt to unionize
Hamza Dannoun
I am looking for a job Hamza technician mechanic
Was contained on the experience and skill to work
Haifawi
This comment is more illuminating then all the trolls, hasbarists, and anti-semites.
Richard
This comment is second-most illuminating, because it shows that “hasbarist,” an anti-Semitic epithet because it implies that people who defend Israel are participating in a conspiracy funded by the Israeli government, is totally fine according to people who consider themselves progressive.
Tomer
Yes, the so-called fakestines can unionize after they have returned to Saudi Arabia (where they belong).
PS: The Saudi King may have something to say about that.
Frank
What is the connection between Palestinians and Saudi Arabians?
France and Sweden?
So Tomer, where will you return too?-if that is the issue. Do you want an apartheid situation where some workers are more protected than others?
carol norwell
And maybe the Israeli’s could give back the land they keep stealing, day on day.
Average American
Tomer – You get to say where they “belong”? Why?
Richard
Tome – don’t respond to this guy. He’s a wacko who thinks Zionism means conquering everything from the Nile to the Euphrates.
Richard
I support its only under military occupation that someone can file false charges that keep innocent people from doing their jobs. Not possible except under military occupation. Nope. Not. Possible.