On Monday, August 25, WAC MAAN lawyer Adv. Aya Bartenstein filed an additional petition in the Jerusalem Regional Labour Court against Zarfaty Garage management’s attempt to get the union out of the workplace.
Palestinian workers at Zarfati Garage in Mishur Edumim Settlement went on strike following the dismissal of the Union leader Hatem abu-Ziadeh.
The struggle at Zarfaty Garage is precedent setting. It is the first time that Palestinian workers in the West Bank settlements organize themselves to win a union voice and negotiate a collective agreement.
WAC-MAAN National Director Assaf Adiv to Att. Shlomo Yitzhaki, Commissioner of Labour Relations, Israel Ministry of Economy
On Thursday, July 31, Maaleh Adumim police revoked the work permit of Hatem Abu Ziadeh, a Palestinian who served as chair of the Workers’ Committee at the Zarfati Garage.
Hatem Abu Ziadeh, who led the worker’s organization in Zarfati garage in Mishur Edumim settlement, was dismissed by management, who called on thugs and the police as well in order to break the following strike called by WAC-MAAN.
The Jerusalem Labor Court heard yesterday (July 27) WAC-Maan’s case against the Zarfati garage in the occupied West Bank. The garage recently fired the Workers’ Committee chairperson, Hatam Abu Ziyada.
The workers began the strike two days ago in light of the Zarfati management’s ongoing refusal to negotiate, which peaked with the firing of the head of their Workers’ Committee Hatem Abu Ziadeh.
Workers at the Zarfati Garage, residents of the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, joined The Independent Trade Union Centre MAAN (known formally in English as WAC) and began organizing to put an end to decades of exploitation.
Following the workers at the Salit Quarry and Levi Metal & Wood, a third group of Palestinians employed by Israeli companies in the occupied West Bank is organizing with the Independent Trade Union Centre WAC-MAAN.
