Disagreement over the strike and warnings of comprehensive transportation paralysis

Bethlehem - Ofoq News - A heated union confrontation revealed live on air disputes between parties representing drivers in the Hebron Governorate, against the backdrop of the General Union of Transport Workers in Palestine announcing the implementation of a partial strike for one hour in various governorates of the West Bank, in protest against the deteriorating economic conditions of workers in the public transport sector, amid warnings of an escalation that could lead to a comprehensive strike if the government does not respond to the union demands.

The dispute erupted after the head of the Public Vehicle Drivers Union in Hebron Governorate, Ibrahim Abu Sobeih, announced that his union would not adhere to the strike scheduled from ten to eleven in the morning, accusing the General Union of making the decision without consulting other union bodies. Meanwhile, the head of the General Union of Transport Workers in Palestine, Alaa Mayasi, responded by confirming that the move came after three years of demands and communications with the government, considering that union disputes should not hinder efforts aimed at saving the transport sector and protecting resources. Drivers livelihood.

These statements came during a direct confrontation within the “Good Morning” program, which is broadcast on the Ofoq News satellite channel, the Ofoq News radio network, and Radio Al-Faba, and is presented by journalist Riyad Khamis. The episode witnessed a sharp exchange of criticism regarding union representation and protest decision-making mechanisms, amid calls to overcome differences and unify positions in the face of escalating economic challenges.

Abu Sobeih: We learned about the strike like the rest of the citizens, and individual decisions do not serve drivers

Ibrahim Abu Sobeih confirmed that the Public Vehicle Drivers Union in Hebron Governorate was surprised by the announcement of the strike, without receiving any contact or invitation to participate in the consultations that preceded the decision.

He explained that the union was aware of the protest movement, as were the citizens, considering that making decisions that affect the interests of drivers without coordination with their representatives constitutes a defect in the union’s work.

He said that union work cannot succeed if it turns into individual decisions, stressing the need for consultation between union bodies to reach a unified position that reflects the interests of workers in the sector.

He pointed out that his union, whose administrative body was recently elected, clearly announced its non-commitment to the protest, stressing that this position does not mean rejecting the demands related to improving the conditions of drivers, but rather objecting to the method of decision-making.

He added that drivers in Hebron Governorate suffer from the same economic conditions faced by their colleagues in the rest of the governorates, and that his union stands by any movement that preserves their dignity and their livelihood, provided that it is based on coordination and understanding.

Abu Sobeih wondered whether the General Union had sent official letters to the Ministries of Transport and Communications and Finance, and whether it had received responses to its demands before taking the decision to strike, considering that exhausting channels of dialogue with the competent authorities must precede any escalatory steps.

He called for a meeting between the various union bodies to come up with joint decisions, stressing that the unity of the position gives the drivers’ demands greater strength before the government.

Al-Mayasi responds strongly: Three years of suffering and no time for disagreements

For his part, the head of the General Union of Transport Workers in Palestine, Alaa Mayasi, responded to Abu Sobeih’s statements, stressing that the union has not stopped over the past three years demanding support for the public transport sector and justice for drivers who face a continuous decline in their incomes.

He explained that the General Union, along with unions and entities representing taxi offices and bus companies, continued to communicate with the government and the competent authorities to communicate the demands of workers in the sector.

He pointed out that the last six months have witnessed a worsening of the suffering of drivers, stressing that the current stage requires serious action instead of preoccupation with union disputes.

Mayasi stressed that the decision to strike was not taken randomly, but rather came after a meeting in which representatives of the transport sector in the governorates and unions linked to the bus and taxi sectors participated.

He considered that any union body that sees the move as being in the interest of drivers should support it, regardless of organizational differences, stressing his readiness to work alongside any body seeking justice for workers in the sector.

He said that the union's primary goal is to preserve drivers' income and the continuity of their work, stressing that union work must transcend personal and organizational differences when it comes to the interests of thousands of families who depend on the transportation sector.

Warnings of a comprehensive strike in the West Bank

Mayasi revealed that the protest vigil scheduled from ten to eleven in the morning in transportation complexes in various governorates of the West Bank may be a prelude to broader escalatory steps.

He explained that there is a tendency to issue a joint statement the day after the protest, with the participation of transport workers’ unions and entities representing buses and taxi offices, in preparation for announcing a comprehensive strike in the event that the government does not respond to the demands raised.

He stressed that the union seeks, through these steps, to push the government towards taking practical decisions to support the sector, which is suffering from increasing economic burdens that affect the ability of drivers to continue their work.

Mayasi recalled the transport sector strike in 2022, considering that it achieved a 200% success, as he put it, as a result of the drivers’ confidence in the General Union and the participating union bodies.

He stressed that the union has the ability to organize broad protest steps, and that its demands include all workers in the transportation sector, and not a specific group or governorate.

These warnings raise fears of the possibility of a widespread disruption of transportation services in the West Bank if the general strike is implemented, with large numbers of citizens relying on public transportation for their daily transportation.

Disagreement over the legitimacy of union representation.. Al-Mayasi reveals numbers about members

The debate between the two parties escalated when the discussion moved to the issue of union representation in Hebron Governorate, where Abu Subeih explained that the Public Vehicle Drivers Union, which he heads, is independent from the General Union of Transport Workers in Palestine.

On the other hand, Mayasi confirmed that the General Union has had a union presence that extends for about 30 years, and that it represents a wide segment of workers in the transportation sector.

He pointed out that the official authorities are negotiating, according to him, with the most representative parties, presenting numbers related to the size of the transportation sector in the West Bank, including about 5,000 taxi and private travel vehicles, and 8,000 service vehicles, in addition to mentioning the number 2,100 in his talk about the components of the sector, without its precise classification being clear from the recording.

He revealed that the number of members of the Transport Workers Union in Hebron who have paid their contributions for the year 2026 is 600, compared to the 86 members he referred to during his talk about the other union.

He stressed his respect for all drivers, regardless of their union affiliation, but he considered that the size of union representation and field work must be taken into account when evaluating the role of various parties in defending the interests of workers in the sector.

He stressed that the General Union does not seek to enter into disputes with any party, but rather focuses its efforts on pressuring the government to take decisions that support the transport sector and protect its workers from further economic deterioration.

The traffic plan crisis in Hebron returns to the forefront

In the context of his defense of the role of the General Union, Mayasi touched on the crisis facing drivers in Hebron Governorate as a result of the traffic plan, stressing that its repercussions have been continuing for about six to nine months.

He explained that drivers working on internal lines incurred additional burdens as a result of this plan, and that the General Union and the line committees followed up on the issue and sought to convey their suffering to the competent authorities.

He pointed out that union cadres in the governorates moved to support the affected drivers in Hebron, considering that these efforts reflect the union’s role in defending workers in the sector.

He stressed that the decline in drivers' incomes has become a daily problem that requires urgent government intervention, warning that the continuation of the current conditions may make the living conditions of thousands of families more difficult.

He stressed that any future government support for the transportation sector must include all drivers without exception, regardless of their positions on the strike or the union bodies to which they belong.

Abu Sobeih: We are not from another planet.. and we are part of the drivers’ suffering

In a new intervention, Abu Sobeih rejected what he considered an attempt to diminish the role of his union or to portray its members as if they were far from the reality of the transportation sector.

He stressed that union members work on the street and face the same economic and professional conditions as other drivers.

He explained that objecting to the strike decision does not mean standing against the drivers’ demands, but rather comes from the necessity of respecting the union frameworks and consulting with them before making decisions that affect their work.

He pointed out that the General Union could have communicated with the new administrative body and informed it of the demands and proposed protest steps, stressing that such communication would have helped to reach a common position.

He added that the driver who depends on his daily income may be affected by the suspension of work, even for one hour, which requires studying the repercussions of the protest steps on workers in the sector.

He renewed his readiness to cooperate with the General Union in any action aimed at protecting the rights, dignity and sources of livelihood of drivers, stressing that the dispute relates to work mechanisms and not to the essence of the demands.

Accusations of threatening drivers with dismissal from the union

In a remarkable development during the last minutes of the interview, Abu Sobeih accused parties in the General Union of threatening drivers with expulsion from its membership if they belonged to the Public Vehicle Drivers Union in Hebron.

He pointed out that some drivers fear losing services provided by other unions, considering that using union membership as a means of putting pressure on drivers contradicts the principles of union work and freedom of association.

During the interview, Abu Sobeih did not provide detailed evidence to prove these accusations, nor did the available portion of the discussion include a direct and detailed response from Mayasi to them, due to the expiration of the time allotted for the program.