About trade unions, their democracy and their national identity

Written by: Nihad Abu Ghosh
There are signs that call for optimism and predict the possibility of amending the problematic decision regarding the Doctors Syndicate in a way that preserves the democratic, professional and health rights of doctors and the Palestinian society in general. Wide controversy and deep disagreements in the Palestinian society, in light of critical circumstances, the Palestinians were in dire need of solidarity and unity to confront the frenzied Israeli attack on the city of Nablus and all manifestations of resistance and rejection of the occupation.

The prior division between the supporters and opponents of the decision was remarkable. Most of the political forces, trade unions, and civil society institutions, especially human rights organizations, rejected the decision because it constituted a coup against a democratic process that took place only five months ago. Violent in the affairs of an ancient professional union, and siding with a union and political party that had previously participated in the same union elections, against the other party that won the elections. On the other hand, the decision was supported by the union under the pretext of "Palestinization" of the union, siding with the citizens and the patients' right to treatment in the face of the union's "arbitrariness" in its repeated resort to strike decisions.

The Palestinian identity of the union, and with the emphasis on the necessity of finding a union and national solution to the relationship between the two bodies of the union in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, publicizing this argument was nothing but a pretext to pass interference in the affairs of the union and a coup against it, otherwise where was this slogan over the course of 28 years of life The Palestinian Authority, and 34 years have passed since the decision to disengage? Where was this orientation when those in charge of the union were from the ruling party, and some of them were named in the recent decision of the constituent body of the Palestinian union? Has the political and legal consequences, financial and pension rights of the members been scrutinized? And what about the ambitions of the occupation in the institutions of Jerusalem and its closure of institutions and the robbery of everything that is Palestinian? The issue of resolving the relationship between some Palestinian and Jordanian trade unions, and everyone knows the courageous and distinguished national role played by Jordanian trade unions throughout its history in supporting the Palestinian people and their national rights and their contribution to securing their steadfastness.

What increases concern about our political and social future is that the decision related to the Medical Syndicate came in the context of an unstoppable torrent of decrees by law, which numbered more than 350 decisions covering all aspects of life. This expansion in issuing decrees by law and resolving all disputes and issues raised by presidential decrees came in The absence of the Legislative Council, and the inability of political forces to influence, despite the fact that the constitutional provision that gives the president the power to issue decrees by law, links this procedure to “a state of extreme necessity that cannot be postponed,” a condition that is not fulfilled in most cases in which these decisions were issued.

This situation has led to the centralization of all executive, legislative and judicial powers in the hands of the President. If we take into account that the President is burdened with major national concerns and concerns that occupy most of his time and attention, from a comprehensive Israeli attack to liquidate our national rights to a complex international situation that the occupying state is investing in to single us out, to A disjointed Arab situation divided into axes and incapable of our support if it does not collude with our enemy, to a long-standing internal division that threatens to turn into secession, to internal living and security crises, in the face of all this, it is impossible for the president to find enough time to scrutinize and scrutinize the various laws and their formulations. Thus, the task of drafting and detailing these laws becomes the task of the circle surrounding the president, which seems to be relishing replacing all components of society, from political forces, popular unions, and institutions of liberation organization to civil society, and all the way to the legislative, judicial, and executive authorities.

It is not necessary for us to agree with the Doctors Syndicate and agree with all its decisions in order to defend it, as many of these decisions, especially the strike, were severe and problematic and caused suffering to groups that were originally weak and marginalized, particularly the sick and the poor. And calm, and it is similar to the debate raised by the teachers’ strikes following their disputes with the Ministry of Education and the government. This leads us to the need to create codes of honor and codes that protect the rights of citizens, patients, students and all groups affected by strikes. The disputes of these unions are with the government and not with the public who benefit from their services, but Respecting the independence of the Medical Association and other unions and non-interference in their affairs remains a major Palestinian human right, each in its own association and its representative framework, and one of the main principles and constants that should not be neglected or waived if we want to preserve a strong and cohesive Palestinian society capable of steadfast in the face of schemes Occupation.

There is a lot that deserves discussion about trade unions, and perhaps the most important thing that should be focused on is the necessity of balancing between the political and trade union demands in the work of trade unions. However, the matter sometimes turns into turning trade unions and federations into an arena for an abhorrent factional partisan struggle that only wants the trade unions to be a political and propaganda front for the party that leads them, and not an institution fighting for the rights and interests of its members.