Chairman of the Radiographer Union: “We are the spinal cord of the medical system.”

Close to 1,100 workers in the medical imaging system will benefit from the fruits of the collective agreement signed with the Ministry of Finance. The agreement is centered on a differential increase in base salaries, emphasizing incentives for radiographers at the beginning of their careers. The profession suffers from acute workforce shortages, and the agreement is designed to encourage young people to join and inject new blood into this important medical system. Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David: “This is not a band-aid agreement, but an in-depth amendment in such a necessary profession.” 

The Histadrut and the Ministry of Finance signed a new collective bargaining agreement today (Sunday) for medical imaging workers (radiographers). One thousand one hundred workers in government and municipal hospitals, hospitals, and clinics of Clalit Health Provider and Hadassah in Jerusalem. The agreement was signed in the presence of Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David, Commissioner for Wages at the Ministry of Finance, Kobi Bar-Natan, and the Chairman of the Radiographer and Imaging Workers’ Union, Arieh Hershkovitz. 

At the heart of the agreement is an increase in the basic salary of radiographers to encourage new workers to join this crucial medical system, which suffers from a shortage of manpower. Emphasis is placed on improving the wages of those with lower ranks as part of a broader move to regulate and upgrade the profession, which is a necessary and integral part of the health care system.

Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David: “This is not a band-aid agreement, but an in-depth amendment in a necessary profession. After all, everyone knows that it is impossible to enter surgery or perform medical follow-up without radiographers. Improving these dedicated workers’ employment and wage conditions, who work day and night in hospitals, is important in establishing this role as more professional, more serious, and – more lucrative. I will not allow employees who are an integral part of the medical chain to be left behind, and for me, this is the first step to a massive upgrade of the field. I want to thank all those involved in the work which brought this important agreement.”

Chairman of the Radiographer and Imaging Workers’ Union, Arieh Hershkovitz: “My union members and I came to make a change, and this agreement is the way to go. This profession has suffered from neglect, and whose average age of employees is close to 50. To inject new blood, we are working to change employment frameworks to benefit employees. Unlike other sectors, the veterans in the imaging industry have agreed to give of themselves and make concessions to bring new people into the field. You meet us everywhere: in the emergency rooms, operating rooms, imaging rooms, and CT – without us, the health system cannot exist. We are the spinal cord of the medical system. Hence our place should be at the forefront of the stage. To prevent the high erosion, we will continue to work for additional agreements that will benefit employees. Thank you to the Chairman of the Histadrut, Arnon Bar-David, for believing in the righteousness of the way, and good luck to us all. “

Commissioner for Wages at the Ministry of Finance Kobi Bar-Natan: “The agreement with the Radiographer and Imaging Workers’ Union is an important agreement that will strengthen the public health system and increase the number of workers by increasing young workers’ salaries. The agreement joins a series of agreements designed to improve working conditions in the medical professions and reduce the unjustified gaps in the health system. “