Safety first: Workplace violence drove 40% of strikes in 2025, Davar reports

While Israel recorded an 88% drop in lost workdays in 2025, an alarming trend emerged: 40% of all strikes were direct protest actions against physical and verbal violence targeting frontline workers. According to the Ministry of Labour report published by Davar, workplace safety in public transit, health, and education has surpassed traditional economic demands as a primary trigger for industrial action, driving short, targeted work stoppages to demand zero tolerance for harassment and abuse on the job.

The total number of workdays lost to strikes in Israel dropped sharply, by 88%, in 2025, falling to 90,000 days from 762,000 in 2024. This, according to the Ministry of Labour’s stats published by Davar. The total count of strikes remained steady at 25.

However, behind these numbers lies an alarming trend: an unprecedented 40% of all strikes in 2025 (10 out of 25) were direct protest actions triggered by incidents of physical and verbal violence against workers, with the incidents predominantly concentrated in education and public transportation.

Frontline workers demand immediate protection

Unlike traditional wage negotiations, these anti-violence protest strikes were kept remarkably short, frequently lasting just two hours, to minimise public disruption while sending a clear message against physical abuse and harassment. Overall, the strike pattern shows an 88% decrease in the number of workdays lost to strikes compared to 2024. The drop was driven in part by the fact that throughout 2024, the Secondary School Teachers’ Association held several regional strikes and a week-long national strike in September as part of its wage dispute. Nevertheless, the number of lost workdays due to strikes remains low even when compared to previous years: 266,000 workdays were lost in 2023, and 334,000 were lost in 2022. Davar notes that the Ministry of Labour report attributed a moderating impact on industrial action to the ongoing national security emergency.

Overall, 69% of organisational steps and 80% of lost workdays occurred in the public sector, with education, state administration, and municipal services accounting for the majority of actions. When frontline public service employees face daily safety threats on the job, immediate action is essential. No worker should ever have to choose between their livelihood and their personal physical safety.

The rise in workplace violence is a concerning phenomenon. Occupational health and safety must extend beyond physical hazards to ensure complete protection from violence, harassment, and fear. The Histadrut is committed to eliminating workplace violence and ensuring safe, dignified working environments for every employee. By continuing to advocate, securing strong collective bargaining agreements, and taking additional actions, we will keep workplaces safe across all sectors.

Read here the full Davar article reporting on strike statistics for 2025