People & Partners - Australia Israel Labor Dialogue

HAVODA

The modern Israeli Labor Party, Ha’Avoda (Havoda), was established in 1968 following the merger of three left wing political parties. Until 1977, all Israel Prime Ministers were affiliated with the Labor movement.

Eran Hermoni is the Secretary General of the Israeli Labor Party, having been elected to that position in February 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Eran visited Australia in February 2018 for a meeting of the International Progressive Campaign Forum, of which the Israeli Labor Party is a member. Eran is committed to developing the historical ties between the Israeli Labor Party and the Australian Labor Party.

Jonathan Cumming, International Affairs Advisor to MK Merav Michaeli, leader of the Israeli Labor Party

Michal Biran has been the International Secretary of Havoda since 2020. Michal was a Member of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament between 2013 and 2019. Michal visited Australia in 2017.

Michael Pettersson MLA, Chris Steel MLA, Michael Borowick JP (Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions), Michael Hiscox, MK Michal Biran, and Alex Claassens (Secretary, Rail, Tram and Bus Union (New South Wales Branch)), Canberra, July 2017

HISTADRUT

Histadrut or the General Organisation of Workers in Israel is Israels national trade union centre, representing the majority of trade unionists in the State of Israel. With its 700,000 members, it accounts for five-sixths of Israels unionised population. The Histadrut Leumi is a distant second with 100,000 members, followed by two newer union groups, Koach L’Ovdim (Power to the Workers) with a membership of 35,000 and WAC-MAAN with a membership of 2500.

Established in December 1920 in Mandatory Palestine, the Histadrut soon became one of the most powerful institutions in pre-state Israel.

The Histadrut is an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and is an active participant in the ITUC Asia Pacific Regional Organisation ((ITUC – AP). Prior to establishment of the ITUC in 2006, the Histadrut was a member of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).

Israeli and Australian unions are involved in the global union framework.

In 2012, the OECD estimated that Israel had trade union density of 23%, compared to Australia at 18.2%. In 2016, OECD data specified Australia had a trade union density of 14.5%.

The Histadrut is lead by its chairperson, Arnon Bar David, who assumed the role in March 2019.

In April 2019, Peter Lerner was appointed the Director General of the International Relations Division.

Avital Shapira, Director, International Relations Division, Histadrut

YOUNG LABOR

Australia Israel Labor Dialogue (AILD) facilitates a dialogue between Australian Young Labor (AYL) and the youth organisations of the Israeli Labor Party, Noar Havoda (13 – 17 years of age) and H’Avoda H’tzeira (18 – 35 years of age).

Eyal Tsamir, elected chairperson of Noar Havoda - Labor Youth in 2021

Noa Hassidov, chairperson of Ziri Mifleget Havoda - Young Labor

Amir Katzir, International Secretary of H'Avoda H'tzeira - Young Labor.

LGBTIQ

AILD has a working group which is building links between LGBTIQ activists in Israel and Australia given there is an active LGBTIQ circle within the Israeli Labor Party and there are active Rainbow Labor groups in many of the Australian states and territories.

Steve Staikos, Jack Whitney and Jordan Mumford, are members of the AILD LGBTIQ working group.

Sari Yerushalmi, convenor of the Israeli Labor Party LGBTIQ+ circle

Chen Arieli, Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv & member of the management committee of Havoda (Labor Party)

BITUD

Each year, Australia Israel Labor Dialogue conducts a mission to Israel and Palestine for trade union leaders. These missions are conducted jointly with Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue (BITUD), an organisation that promotes a dialogue between British, Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists.

Australia Israel Labor Dialogue and Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue have been organising joint missions since 2010.

Dee Gerson, Executive Vice-Chair, Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue (BITUD)

Stephen Scott, Director, Britain Israel Trade Union Dialogue (BITUD)

Labour Friends of Israel

Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) is an British organisation that works closely with members of the Labour Party, trade unions and other progressive groups to strengthen political and cultural ties between the the United Kingdom and Israel.

LFI promotes a negotiated two-state solution for two peoples with the State of Israel living behind safe, secure and recognised borders alongside a democratic and independent Palestinian state.