Summarising a Year of Wins for Workers

The past year was marked by challenges such as new dangers faced by workers while on duty, the need to compensate employees absent due to wartime implications, and the imperative to protect workers from layoffs. Responding to these complex needs, the Histadrut signed approximately 365 agreements throughout the year, encompassing collective bargaining agreements and extension orders designed to safeguard worker rights and guide the economy’s response to the war.

This extensive effort included hundreds of collective bargaining agreements negotiated across both the public and private sectors. Industry-wide regulations were signed to increase protection from layoffs for reservists for 60 days and to grant paid leave to their spouses, as well as agreements and industry-wide extension orders that regulate pay for employees who were absent from their workplace due to the war.

Many agreements were reached with the Treasury Ministry as part of the budgetary adjustments required following the war’s expenses. For one, The Histadrut successfully prevented the Ministry of Finance from slashing tax benefits on pension plans and from freezing the planned minimum wage increase for 2024. It was further determined that the state would fulfill its obligations under the framework agreement for wage increases in the public sector. Still, a temporary two-year reduction in the salaries of public sector employees was decided; however, it will not harm pension contributions. Additionally, it was agreed to implement eight long weekends in the public sector for the first time in the coming two years.

In the private sector, agreements were signed in workplaces big and small across the country, even in the most affected areas. In addition to agreement updates in the public sector, a reform in the salaries of psychologists in the public service was also achieved. An extension order that applies the reform in the salaries of social workers to privatized services in the field is a notable achievement in the third sector.

New workers councils were established this year: employees of contracting companies operating on the water line of the Haifa Port, employees of the health corporation affiliated with Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), employees of the CTS Pharmaceuticals company, employees of the PriNiv juices company, employees of the desalination and environmental solutions company BlueGen Water, employees of the Ben Shimon Florish Ltd. pharmaceuticals and cosmetics company, employees of Nokia Israel, employees of the Egged Road company, employees of the Gross Community Center in Maalot-Tarshiha, and employees of the Paz Aviation Services company.

The Histadrut has been involved in prominent legal proceedings for the past year. The National Labor Court ruling rejected Tower Semiconductor’s appeal and determined that it would pay compensation of 600,000 shekels after harming its employees’ right to organize. Another significant ruling of the Haifa Regional Labor Court determined that employees of local authorities are entitled to a “second shift” allowance even if they are not shift workers.

Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David: “The Histadrut once again proves its strength and importance in routine times and emergencies. The Histadrut is a beacon of stability and responsibility even during the complex days we have experienced. We will continue to work and strive to advance the public and private sectors to benefit all residents of the State of Israel to move the economy forward.”

Director-General of the Professional Union Department and Deputy Director-General for Economics and Policy, Adam Blummenberg: “The Histadrut continues to act to improve the conditions and rights of employees even during this challenging period of emergency and rising prices, and the scope of the agreements signed this year, which grant extensive wage increases and deepen the social security net, testifies to this.”

Looking ahead to 2025, the Histadrut remains committed to its core mission: protecting workers’ rights, improving working conditions, and advocating for social justice. Building upon the past year’s successes, the union will continue to negotiate robust collective bargaining agreements, fight for fair wages and benefits, and address the evolving needs of the Israeli workforce in a rapidly changing world. The Histadrut remains a steadfast voice for workers, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are upheld.

The information for this article was taken from Davar. To read the full article in Hebrew press here