Israeli General Strike Is Called Off
Shortly after entering its fifth day, a general strike that has paralyzed Israel’s public sector was called off on Sunday, following a reported agreement between the Finance Ministry and the Histadrut labor federation.
The newly reached deal includes raising subcontracted workers minimum monthly wage to NIS 4,500, as well as an improvement in their general working conditions, such as employer participation in workers’ savings, holiday gifts, larger employer participation in pensions’ savings, and subsidized meals.
In addition, the state pledged to add 120 inspectors meant to enforce the subcontracted workers’ rights. In return, the Histadrut pledges to refrain from general strikes for 3 years.
The announcement was made after talks between the Finance Ministry and the Histadrut resumed late on Saturday night and continued all night long, with no agreement being reached.
About half the garbage in the big cities has not been collected since Wednesday. (In some communities, garbage is picked up by private firms.) In the greater Tel Aviv area alone, more than 10,000 tons of refuse line the streets.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
