Histadrut Declares Labor Dispute at Rotem Amfert Negev to Safeguard 850 Industrial Workers

The Histadrut has officially declared a labor dispute covering approximately 850 workers at Rotem Amfert Negev, pushing back against unilateral cost-cutting measures and demanding an updated collective bargaining agreement.

The Histadrut announced a formal labor dispute today at Rotem Amfert Negev,which operates under The ICL company . The dispute follows management’s attempts to unilaterally advance efficiency programs and labor cost reductions, measures that directly threaten the job security and working conditions of roughly 850 industrial personnel.

Under Israeli labor law, declaring an official labor dispute initiates a mandatory statutory cooling-off period, legally preparing the ground for sanctioned strike actions should management refuse to abandon unilateral austerity and negotiate in good faith.

Impasse at the Table: Defending Living Standards and Fair Compensation

The declaration comes amid a prolonged deadlock in collective bargaining talks following the expiration of the workers’ previous agreement. Despite constructive engagement from employee representatives, company leadership has stalled progress while attempting structural rollbacks.

Union members are calling for accelerated, substantive negotiations to establish a new collective agreement. The union’s demands center on fair wage increases, enhanced working conditions, and full retroactive application from the date the previous contract lapsed. Workers maintain that operational stability cannot come at the expense of eroded real wages or weakened protections.

Rom Dvir, Chairman of the Union of Hotels, Agriculture and Chemistry Workers in the Histadrut:

“The Histadrut stands as an iron wall alongside the workers of Rotem Amfert Negev. Our demands are just and necessary: the renewal of the collective agreement, wage increases, and the full preservation of job security. We will continue standing with the workers and deploy all tools at our disposal until a fair agreement that benefits the workforce is achieved.”

Worker Contribution Must Be Respected: Rejecting Unilateral Austerity

Rotem Amfert Negev’s operational and financial successes over recent years reflect the technical dedication and hard work of its workforce. Management’s push to introduce unilateral restructuring programs ignores this foundational labor contribution.

Moshe Hadad, Chairman of the Rotem Amfert Negev Workers’ Council, underscored this growing imbalance:

“Following years of outstanding results and significant milestones in which the employees were key partners, management’s decision to pursue “efficiency” measures is unacceptable. The workers’ professionalism and dedication drove the plant’s success and revenue. There is a limit to how big the gap can be between acknowledging worker contributions when highlighting achievements, and the willingness to reward them at the negotiating table.”