After the agreement at the Israel Post and the end of sanctions in the economy, the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) announced a series of work disputes at 11 government companies. The announcement means that the Histadrut will be entitled to declare strikes and sanctions at these companies from next Monday. The companies at which work disputes were declared included Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Defense Systems, Israel Electric Corporation, Israel Railways and Mekorot Water Company. The disputes involve 43,000 workers.

A demonstration in Tel-Aviv against health privatization (Photo: Al Ittihad)

The Histadrut announcement follows cabinet approval of share offerings in government companies amounting to NIS 15 billion. The Histadrut said that the cabinet decision “had been taken unilaterally, without negotiations with the workers’ representatives,” and protested “the state’s attempt to force dramatic changes on the workers in violation of all norms and customs usual in collective labor relations. Issuing shares in government companies is liable to cause far-reaching changes affecting the workers’ rights and working conditions, while harming their status, wages, and employment security.”