Labor Court recognizes Histadrut as representative union at Emanuel Offset Printing

Court rules company violated workers’ right to organize, orders NIS 500,000 compensation and good-faith collective bargaining.

The Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court has ruled that the Histadrut is the representative workers’ organization at Offset Printing Emanuel Ltd., finding that the company systematically violated employees’ fundamental right to unionize and interfered with the organizing process.

The Court determined that more than one-third of the company’s employees had lawfully joined the Histadrut, meeting the legal threshold for representation. It rejected the company’s claims of irregularities or improper influence, finding no evidentiary basis for such allegations.

According to the ruling, management took steps against employees involved in the organizing effort, including the dismissal of a member of the organizing committee and an attempt to dismiss another worker. The Court found a direct connection between these actions and the employees’ union activity, and ruled that they were not based on legitimate professional considerations.

The judgment also found that company representatives actively sought to dissuade workers from joining the Histadrut, including assisting in the drafting of membership cancellation notices. These actions were attributed to the company itself.

As a result, the Court ordered the company to pay NIS 500,000 in compensation and to enter into good-faith collective bargaining with the Histadrut to regulate employees’ terms and conditions of employment.

David Reuven, Chair of the Histadrut Rishon LeZion District, said:
“Freedom of association is a fundamental democratic right. Workers have the right to organize and negotiate collectively without fear or pressure. The Histadrut will continue to act decisively wherever this right is violated.”