Circular number: NP/92/09/AG

Dear Colleague,

RMT members recently showed solidarity with foreign rail workers by demonstrating in support of 40 Israeli Arab citizens sacked by Israel Railways following the Company’s decision to impose discriminatory conditions of employment [pictured].

The Company decided that only army veterans could be employed in the positions these workers held, namely as lookouts at level crossings to prevent collisions between trains and vehicles, thus discriminating against Arabs because they are exempt from military service.

The RMT wrote to the Israeli Ambassador, urging the Israeli government to intervene to end this injustice. Your Union also sent a letter of strong complaint to the Chief Executive of Israel Railways and called for the reinstatement of the sacked workers.

The RMT held a demonstration at the Israeli Embassy on 11th May 2009, where I joined RMT members to hand in a further letter to the Israeli Ambassador.

The actions of Israel Railways were condemned by the Tel Aviv Labour Court as discriminatory and the Company faced a campaign by the Arab workers and an Arab Israeli MP as well as international condemnation.

Under this concerted pressure, Israel Railways abandoned the discriminatory new conditions of employment. In a letter to the RMT, the Director of Public Affairs at the Israeli Embassy conveyed a statement made by the Country’s Railway Company: -

“In light of the sensitivity of this decision (to change the conditions of employment), and following a meeting between Israel Railways representatives and the Commissioner of Equal Opportunity At Work, Israel Railways has agreed alternative, equivalent eligibility criteria for those who did not do service in the Israel Defence Forces, thereby opening application to all.

“In addition, it has been decided that anyone who has worked in the position of look-out for more than 12 months will be exempt from the eligibility requirements.”

Prejudice and racial exclusion have absolutely no place in society and I am very pleased the RMT was able to demonstrate solidarity with fellow rail workers. A more detailed report of this matter will appear in the June edition of the RMT News.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow
General Secretary