Her kan du lese min hilsningstale under åpningssermonien på kongressen til Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), 7. desember 2011 i Ramallah.
Dear friends and comrades!
On behalf of LO Norway I would like to thank you for inviting us to your Congress. I bring with me the warm greetings from all union members in Norway to PGFTUs Congress here in Ramallah.
The Norwegian Trade Unions have cooperated with the PGFTU since 1992. We know each other well, and I feel that we are between good friends. The cooperation and friendship between LO and the Palestinian trade unions are strong and we trust each other.
I am personally has participated in several visits to the PGFTU as a part of a professional youth delegation. That has meant a lot for me personally. And I have a good understanding of how the Israel occupation deals with the Palestinian population.
I have particularly noticed the you have many wonderful young people who are engaged in the PGFTUs trade union work. Here you have done a great job. My advice is to continue this work, let the young women and men work in PGFTUs organization and give them the chance to reach leading positions, they have so much to contribute.
From LO side, it is important that Norwegian youth understand the situation which the Palestinians are living under. Israel aggressive occupation. The strict Israeli military control of all the Palestinians, this touches Norwegian youth very strongly.
Youth Co-operation between our two organizations must continue. I think this is a important part of the collaboration between Norwegian and Palestinian trade unions have established.
It was important for the Norwegian trade union movement to support the United Nations application for an Independent Palestinian state.
LO strongly urged the Norwegian government to vote for a Palestinian state when the case is finally dealt with in the UN bodies, and it is now clear that the Norwegian government will support the proposal for a Palestinian state when the matter comes to voting in the United Nations.
Palestinians doesn’t have a free life; Israel has taken away your freedom. You can not decide in your own country, you do not have a free and independent nation. Israel’s aggression continues building, settlements and expandt it very fast – even if it triggers strong international reactions.
But, the international support to the Palestinian people is growing every day. Israel is becoming more and more isolated. A Palestinian state has a majority in the UN. It is almost only the United States and Colombia are against a Palestinian state.
When I stand here to salute the Palestinian trade union movement it is also important to remember that Palestinian trade unions are working under very difficult and special conditions.
Trade union work in an occupied country is not easy. The problems that you face in everyday life are brutal and degrading. Israel’s occupation also leads to the loss of many jobs and lead to poorer working conditions.
The Norwegian trade union movement will support you in the fight for minimum wage, workers’ rights. And the right to regular employment.
PGFTU has many capable women members and shop stewards. They work actively and purposefully for women’s rights and right to work. I hope this will continue. It is important for the PGFTU, that all the Palestinian women are fighting for equal rights between men and women in the Palestinian society.
History has shown that the trade union movement is a very important tool in the fight for the creation of a just and democratic society. In the Palestinian liberation struggle, the Palestinian trade union movement is a strong political force. Therefore it is important that you continue to strengthen PGFTU.
I believe that Palestinians can create the Middle East’s best democracy. I am therefore pleased that Hamas and Fatah now work better together. If we are to win the struggle against Israeli occupation, we have to stand together.
It is very good news that the boycott of Israeli investments in occupied Palestinian land is starting to give some results. The last months many companies that have invested in the settlements lose contracts abroad. This means that the boycott begins to work. International trade unions must increase the boycott campaign of all Israeli and international companies that invest or operate in business on the occupied Palestinian land.
Finally:
- The Norwegian trade union movement will continue the struggle for a free and independent Palestinian state.
- The Palestinians have a right to a free life!
- We must boycott investments on Palestinian land.
- We must focus the fight against Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the Aparthied wall should be removed
- We will also appeal to the international community that the Palestinians’ suffering must come to an end, we will never give up before the Palestinians have their freedom and their own state.
Thank you.
