Technicians at X-ray and imaging centers in all public hospitals launched a strike on Thursday, August 6, approved by the Histadrut Labor Federation, to protest employment conditions and wages. The workers’ union argues that the striking technicians work under difficult and stressful conditions due to a shortage of trained manpower and as a result they are exposed to dangerous levels of radiation while working.

The open-ended strike is expected to cause significant disruptions in the public hospitals. Some 1,000 technicians in the government, Clalit health fund, municipal and voluntary hospitals have stopped work, and imaging and X-ray trainees currently studying will not attend classes. The only patients who will be scanned and x-rayed during the strike are neonatal, premature infants, pregnant women, emergency patients and those in intensive units.

The Union of Scanners and X-ray Technicians first declared a work dispute in July 2014. Since then nothing has happened to improve their situation, despite discussions in recent months between the union, the Treasury, and the employers. When the talks reached a deadlock this week, a strike was declared. Union head Menahem Ashkenazi said that union members work “insane hours and in a way that endangers their health. This must stop. Technicians must earn a fair, basic salary so they can make an honorable living and be able to provide the professional service that the patients deserve. At the same time, there must be additional manpower slots that today do not exist.”