Histadrut calls for a consumer boycott to fight the rise in the cost of living

Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David today (Tuesday) called for a consumer boycott of the leading companies Shastovich, Diplomat, and Kimberly-Clark. This, following the rise in prices and the cost of living.

“There is a cynical attempt to take advantage of the political chaos, and giant companies are trying to harass the country’s citizens and raise prices. I am initiating a move today that I have debated a lot. We, the citizens of the State of Israel and the workers, are not prisoners of anyone. I said we will not hesitate to act if the foul behavior continues. A company that abuses the citizens will have to deal with the consequences of its actions through a consumer boycott that we will implement starting today.” This is what Bar-David said regarding the wave of price increases and the rise in prices in the Israeli economy.

Bar-David also said: “Shastovich, diplomat, Kimberly-Clark, the celebration is over. These are the first three companies. Any company that takes advantage of the situation and raises prices disproportionately, we will go after them. I call on the citizens of the State of Israel to stop buying these companies’ products. There are substitutes for everything. I expect we will be smart consumers and buy replacements. We must shop smart and stop the rise in the cost of living. I urge the workers’ committees not to buy these companies’ products for the holiday packages. Let’s strengthen Israeli industry.”

Also, the chairman of the Histadrut announced that he ordered NIS 40 million to be allocated to the fight against the cost of living and noted that in the coming days, the Histadrut will launch a public campaign regarding the cost of living. “Buying smart and fighting the tyranny of life” will be the slogan that will accompany the public campaign.

“You can’t continue to conduct yourself as normal when the price of everything is going up,” he said.
The chairman of the Histadrut also referred to the efforts to create a dialogue with the political echelon. “I met with Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and his responsibility is to resolve the situation. I told him that this process fell on our watch, and I expect him to lower the cost of living. Happily, it fell on attentive ears.”

According to Bar-David, the government must take care of lowering prices on housing, electricity, education, and more. “If I don’t get answers from the government, I’m getting closer to the decision to go out on the streets and shut down the country because of the rise of the cost of living. I want solutions for the workers and supplements for the workers as compensation for the cost of living. Even though the rise of the minimum wage is stuck.” He also noted: “I said at the Histadrut conference: I will not allow a rich country to exist with the excess collection of taxes and citizens buckling under the burden. In the end, actions must be taken, but no one is taking action. I went to Jerusalem to look for solutions, I am a man of solutions, I want to bring funds to give to people. And I run into walls.” The statement was made as part of a special meeting of the leadership of the Histadrut, which dealt with the fight against the cost of living in Israel.

Beyond the consumer boycott, the Histadrut suggested concrete steps to fight the rising cost of living in housing, transportation, food, health care, utilities, services and maintenance, education, worker’s income, and regulation.