The Histadrut (Labor Federation in Israel) on Tuesday declared a labor dispute in all over the public service on behalf of striking post office workers, which opens to doors to a government-wide strike two weeks down the road.
Postal Company workers went on strike in the country’s periphery on Monday, in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, in Jerusalem on Wednesday and Haifa on Thursday.

Postal workers demonstration in Tel-Aviv (Photo: Histadrut)

The dispute centers over major overhaul plans that would include a significant downsizing of staff, increasing afternoon delivery, and keeping offices opening until 8 at night several days a week. The state-owned company, which has been in a dire financial situation for year, had planned on firing 2,000 of its 9,000 employees, and privatizing part of its ownership.

In negotiations, the company and the Histadrut had agreed to reduce the number of laid-off staff to 1,000. The workers accused the company of intending to let 1,500 permanent workers to go so they could hire contract- workers instead and pay them less.

Earlier in Tuesday, post office workers gathered outside a hotel in Tel-Aviv to protest against Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who opened a conference. On Wednesday hundreds of workers demonstrated in Jerusalem. “The Treasury is determined to fire thousands of workers and hires contractors in their places, who can be easily fired and paid the minimum wage,” said Postal Union chairman Shimon Farjun. The workers went on strike in March and April of this year.