The lack of genuine union federations in conjunction with multiplying rights abuses has led thousands of workers to search for alternative assistance.

DWRC has been at the forefront of a burgeoning workers’ rights movement, empowering thousands of workers to organize and act collectively to preserve their rights during these chaotic and tragic times.

In 2003, DWRC launched its Freedom of Association and Organizing program to respond to the needs of hundreds of worker activists, who asked for help to enable them to establish their workers’ committees and trade unions.

Through organizing workshops, hosting meetings and conferences and providing technical assistance and advice, DWRC contributed to the establishment of hundreds of democratic and independent workers’ committees in workplaces and places of residence in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, and the creation of unions and federations to coordinate their work; in 2004, the Independent Labor Committees’ Union was founded in the Gaza Strip, as well as a Local Authorities Workers’ Federation for municipal workers’ committees in the West Bank.

We helped several other sectors organize and/or federate local unions through hosting union conferences and meetings such as: the General Union of Workers in the Electricity Sector in Palestine, Emergency Medical Service Union, Health Services employees union (2005), the association for financial sector workers, the Federation of Higher Education Employees, the Unemployed Workers’ Federation and the Civil Aviation Authority Workers’ Union (2006) and the Gaza electricity company workers’ union (2007).