The National Labor Court late Thursday night lifted an injunction against a general strike declared by the Histadrut labor federation as part of a dispute over the status of contract workers, clearing the way for a general strike beginning 6 a.m. Wednesday. National Labor Court President Nili Arad said there was no choice but to declare that the negotiations between the two sides had reached a deadlock.

“We came to the conclusion that this is a legitimate strike,” the judge said. “In this light, we examined whether the strike met the required test of proportionality, and we arrived at the conclusion that – at this time – it does.”

Contract postal service workers demo, Tel-Aviv (Photo: Activestills)

The Finance Ministry responded early Friday morning to the decision, calling the Histadrut’s use of strikes “cynical and political motivated” and without any accounting of “the harm caused to citizens and the economy”.

Arad said that in accordance with the court’s previous ruling, which ordered the Histadrut to notify the court a week in advance of any industrial action, the strike could commence on February 8th at 6 a.m However, the court put several limitations on the strike, including allowing a shut down of Ben-Gurion Airport to take place only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 p.m.

The judge also ruled that any industries participating in the strike must comply with certain conditions, including that their striking will not “endanger human life, personal safety or public health”. The security forces and hospitals are not permitted to take part in the strike, and all ports must release perishable goods, medicines and any other goods connected with saving human lives.

Airports must also allow flights whose purpose are to save human lives, and local authorities must continue fire and emergency services and special education schools. Magen David Adom services must also work as usual, as well as consular passport services.

Public transport services will be permitted to strike only partially, such that partial transport services will always be available, to avoid paralyzing the entire public transport system. If the train system is striking, Egged and Dan buses must run, the judge added.

In addition, the judge said that a national extraordinary council has been established, the role of which is to consider special requirements and emergency situations. The council will operate subcommittees in various sectors.

The judge also ruled that both sides will attend a hearing in the National Labor Court at 2 p.m. on February 8th, after the strike has begun. Working class-activists will hold a demonstration the same day in front of the Histadrut headquarters, Arlozoroff 93, Tel-Aviv at 5 p.m., in support the strike and against the current Labor’s Histadrut leadership. Among the demonstrators: Hadash and communists activists.  “We want to see the Histadrut as a democratic and working class organization,” said one of the communist activists.