Factory- of cigarettes!

Well, firstly to let you know that everyone smokes in Palestine. I think it might be compulsory in this part of the world! It has been great smoking with our dinners! So our first trip to a factory visit was a cigarette company in Jerusalem. It is one of the main employers in the area, along with the university. We heard the same story about workers losing their right to cross the wall. The company are still paying wages to those who can't get to work. Otherwise those famillies would have no other income. We were given a tour by the owner, a young Palestinian whose grandfather founded the company. He and his father were educated in private schools in England and went to univerisity in Scotland- very strange! He had returned to Palestine to run the business. He gave us a very proud tour of the company that employs around 350 people- and it's one of the biggest employers!

After giving us samples of his finest tobacco and me posing for photos on crates and crates of fags (!) he went on his way and we talked to the union. They were established in 1991 and had elections to a committee every year. These stopped in1999 when interest wained, coinciding with the most recent uprising (Intifada) in 2000. They have now decided to start it up again and are planning elections to the committee next month. Their situation is difficult. Workers are scared to take part in any union activities as jobs are so sparse. We asked what made them start up again and the union reps told us that the workers are earning roughly 1400 Shekels a month (it's around 7/8 to the pound) and basically what more have they to lose? They said the company gives over and above the law so it's not bad but, due to the current situation in Palestine, they feel they need to organise just to hold on to what they have now. They had a strike 12 years ago and were successful in securing health insurance and a savings scheme (like a pension) where they contribute 5% and employer contributes 7%. The difficulties they have is that the company as a whole is being strangled by the Israeli regime. They used to export to Gaza but if they do that now they will have to pay Israeli tax and also tax to the Gaza government, paying twice. Last year the Israelis refused to grant them an import licence so they haven't been able to import any raw materials and had to stock up on 18 months worth where usually they would only have 6 months worth. Their tobacco was coming from Zimbabwe but now comes mostly from Brazil and the Phillipines. They are waiting and hoping that the Israelis will grant them an import licence this year or they will go bust. It seems that the trade union and the company to some extent are working together for a bigger political aim, which is freedom for Palestine, although the union is very aware and still determined to fight for workers rights.

It was summed up by the fact that, during the first Intifada (1987) the Palestinians went on general strike every Thursday. This was effective because they were working for the Israelis and it hit them financially. Now, however, the Palestinians are so cut off, basically just working within the wall, that striking would only harm Palestinians business and the Israelis wouldn't give a shit.