The Arab Trade Union Movement in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 763. Chapter XVII: Labour And Wages: Section 6: Labor Organizations:

CHAPTER XVII.

The organization o! Jewish labour in agriculture.

55. From the trade union standpoint, the majority of Jewish agricultural workers are organized in the Agricultural Workers Union affiliated to the Histadruth, The number of wage earners, however, is relatively small and fluctuates. Most Jewish agricultural workers live in the settlements whose types and population are described in section 7 of chapter IX. The small holders' settlement normally consists of a community of workers' families, each with its own plot, but who may collectively cultivate certain crops and run various economic services. Marketing, dairying, bread-baking and ice manufacture, for example, are usually cooperatively managed and may, on occasion, employ wage-labour. The marketing institutions of the Histadruth. are utilised to the full.

56. The communal settlements are the most important feature of Jewish agricultural life. The settlements fall into four groups, all except one or two of the smallest and miscellaneous groups being federated loosely in "national" organizations, retaining, however, almost complete individual autonomy. The three principal groups fall within the framework of the Histadruth. The classes of communal settlement are as follows :-

(a) Hakibbutz Homeuhad . This group comprises the largest settlements, aiming at absorbing the maximum numbers of persons economically practicable. A few settlements exceed 1,000 in membership. Many settlements run subsidiary industrial enterprises, on occasion bearing little relation to agriculture. Production includes preserves, agricultural implements, packing-cases, textiles, scientific instruments etc. f(ibb1'tz is a generic term usually applied to all classes of communal settlements.

(b) Hever Hakoutzot. This type includes the oldest forms of collective settlement. Membership is restricted with a view to preserving the intimate character of an essentially communal life. Production is almost exclusively agricultural, any workshops being for the supply only of services to the settlement. Membership seldom exceeds 200-300 and' may be substantially less.

(c) Settlements of Hashomer Hatzair. Settlements organized by this movement have a more definite political colour. Their members form the backbone of a strong minority party within the Histadruth.. There is no definite limit set to the size of the settlement but few have more than 300 members.

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(d) Miscellaneous. • The more important of the few miscellaneous settlements are those organized by the Mizrahi Workers Organization. The religious character of Judaism is preserved in these settlements.

The Arab trade union movement, December, 1945.

57, The Arab trade union movement is almost identical with the Arab labour movement as a whole. While it is true that politics play a conspicuous part in any proceedings of Arab trade unions, there is as yet no clear line of demarcation within the movement between industrial and political action. That is true, in a sense, of all labour movements in Palestine, but, as far as Jewish labour is concerned, definite political parties have a place, in the case of the Histadruth within its own framework. Certain 'intellectual' groups among the Arabs may be regarded as being associated with the Arab labour movement, and indeed certain members of these groups have played a part in promoting Arab trade unionism. It may be said, in short, that there is an Arab labour movement, the principal functions of which are trade unions. Little account is here taken of the innumerable cooperatives in the Arab community as, with few exceptions, they have been formed with no conception of organizing labour as such.

58. The Arab trade unions cannot boast the institutional achievements of the Histadruth: They have attempted nothing in agriculture, and very little in the way of direct production. They lack resources and few of their officials have had experience in promoting social institutions or running organized bodies. Nevertheless, the Arab trade union movement is important and it is already exerting an appreciable influence in the economic and social, if not political, life of the country. Arab economy is predominantly agricultural. The influence of Arab trade uniouism is necessarily confined mainly to the towns. Arab urban wage-earners, as a whole, are now directly affected by the activities of the Arab trade unions. Some degree of organization is apparent in most industries, especially so where considerable numbers of workers are employed in one concern, e.g. War Department installations, Government employment (especially in the Palestine Railways), the oil refineries and in transport.

59. Perhaps the main achievements of Arab trade unionism have been in securing trade agreements or enjoying the benefits of Government arbitration awards in a substantial number of industries and undertakings. This development among Arab labour is comparatively new. Prior to 1942, it is doubtful whether as many as half a dozen agreements had been reached in the Arab industries of Palestine.

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