One Day, Five Agreements for Israeli Workers

Thousands of Israeli workers are set to have their wages and benefits increased following a day of successful collective agreements signed by the Histadrut

On Thursday, the Histadrut signed five collective agreements to improve conditions for Israeli workers. The agreements will benefit workers at the defense technology company Rafael, the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigration, the National Road Safety Authority, the Israel Tax Authority, and the Allenby Bridge border crossing.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems: Pay Raises and New Incentives

Workers at Rafael, the company behind the Iron Dome, celebrated an agreement signed by the Histadrut, union representatives, and company management. The agreement, which will be valid until 2028, includes improvements to benefits and wage incentives. The agreement also includes a signing bonus, retention bonus, payment to a professional association, innovative shift allowances, and special additions for employees with low wages. The agreement will apply to approximately 2,500 academics, engineers, and technical workers employed by the company.

Histadrut Chair Arnon Bar-David noted that the importance of the work done by Rafael employees has become increasingly clear over the past year. “They made a decisive contribution to the war efforts and national security. We, all the citizens of Israel, want to say thank you,” he said.

“Together, we have secured a better future for Rafael employees and the security of the state of Israel,” he continued.

Rafael CEO Yoav Turgeman affirmed his support for the deal. “Rafael employees, who contributed to the war effort and the significant undertaking, deserve all the praise and the results of this important agreement, which is the product of cooperation between the Histadrut, the unions, and management.”

Ohad Elkabetz, senior deputy to the Finance Ministry’s commissioner of wages, said that the agreement would promote the company’s growth and, in turn, the resilience of Israel’s security systems.

Ministry of Aliyah and Integration: Wage Increases of up to 1,000 Shekels

The Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the management of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, and ministry workers union signed a separate agreement on Thursday promising monthly wage increases of between 700 and 1,000 shekels (between around $200 and $280) for the ministry’s 400 workers. The agreement will remain in effect until March 2028.

The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration provides assistance and services to new immigrants to Israel. In light of the significant increase in the number of immigrants, the ministry’s workload has grown significantly. Recognition of that increased workload led to wage increases for employees working in the ministry’s headquarters, its regional offices, and Ben Gurion Airport.

Kouki Abutbul, chair of the ministry workers union, described the deal as a “historic step.” “Employees of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration who will receive this unique increase will continue to work for the immigrant and returning resident communities so that their optimal integration into Israeli society will bear sweet fruits and benefit Israel’s economy,” he said.

Histadrut Chair Bar-David congratulated the workers. “Employees of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, who accompany new immigrants in their first steps in Israel, deserve this important agreement,” he said. “Their work, especially given the rise in the number of immigrants in recent years, is of paramount national importance.”

Ofir Alkalay, chair of the broader government employees union, also affirmed his support for the deal. Hanan Lazimi, the Finance Ministry’s senior deputy director of wages, described the deal as “good and balanced.” “I believe it will enhance the ministry’s ability to recruit employees and successfully address the challenges it faces, strengthening the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration as the gateway for new immigrants,” he said.

On behalf of Minister of Aliyah and Integration Ofir Sofer, the ministry’s director general, Avichai Kahana, congratulated the workers. “Employees of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration work day and night with a sense of mission, on numerous tasks that bring blessing to the state of Israel as a whole and to immigrant families in particular,” he said. “The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration will continue to bring immigrants to Israel and integrate them in the best and most appropriate way possible.”

National Road Safety Authority: Wage Increases and Bonuses

A new collective agreement was also signed on Thursday for the employees of the National Road Safety Authority. The agreement, which was signed between the Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the union, and the authority’s management, will improve conditions for all employees and will remain valid until March 2028.

The agreement includes a fixed wage increase of 475 shekels (about $130) per month and a 6% increase in the base salary of employees, along with a transition to a modern payslip format.

Additionally, the employees will receive two one-time bonuses of 6,000 shekels and 3,536 shekels (about $1,700 and $1,000). Workers who are employed for at least six months between 2024 and 2027 will be eligible for a promotion budget increased by around 7%. Annual excellence bonuses of up to 6,000 shekels (about $1,700) will be awarded to up to five employees.

Moreover, the authority will offer funding for medical screenings for employees aged 46 and above, a paid meal plan for all employees, and several paid long weekends across 2025-2026.

Tal Rotman, chair of the authority workers union, noted that negotiations had been ongoing since two months before the October 7 attacks of 2023. “Despite the challenges, during the difficult times faced by the people of Israel, we managed to reach an agreement that can reduce, even slightly, the wage erosion of the dedicated National Road Safety Authority employees who work tirelessly to reduce road accidents in Israel,” he said.

Histadrut Chair Bar-David hailed the signing of the agreement. “The work of the National Road Safety Authority employees, who are at the forefront of the fight against road accidents, is of the highest national importance, especially given the need to accelerate the battle against accidents,” he said.

Alkalay, chair of the broader government employees union, also affirmed his support. “Protecting lives is a supreme value at the National Road Safety Authority, and the devoted employees of the authority do everything in their power to help ensure this,” he said. “I would like to thank the employees for their dedication and their contribution to saving lives and maintaining the safety of drivers and pedestrians.”

Tax Authority: Wage Increases of Up to 2,000 Shekels

A new collective agreement for approximately 1,500 employees of the Tax Authority was also on Thursday between the Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the Tax Authority, the income tax and real estate tax workers union, and the customs and value-added tax workers union.

The agreement includes a monthly wage increase of 2,000 shekels (about $550) for real estate and income tax inspectors and customs and VAT auditors. It also includes a monthly wage increase of 1,600 shekels (about $450) for investigators from both divisions. A budget will also be allocated to address discrepancies among inspectors and auditors in the authority.

“The auditors and investigators in the customs and VAT division work day and night for the state of Israel, assisting in meeting its economic challenges. Therefore, they deserve full compensation in the collective agreement,” customs and value-added tax workers union chair Doron Shaza said. “This agreement will help recruit and retain professional and high-quality workers in the Tax Authority.”

Vadim Evenstein, chair of the union for workers in the income tax and real estate tax division, said that the deal reflected the dedicated work of the divisions’ employees. “Soon, we will move forward to another collective agreement for the remaining Tax Authority employees,” he said.

Histadrut Chair Bar-David described the process leading up to the agreement as “not easy,” noting that the Histadrut had worked for the agreement to cover more workers than had originally been planned. “I congratulate the signing of this agreement, which is complex, but as in every agreement, it brings a good result,” he said. “We are all partners in this effort, and our outlook is toward the future.”

Effie Malkin, commissioner of wages at the Ministry of Finance, said that the deal would help the authority address its challenges, including those brought about by the war. Government employees union chair Alkalay similarly said that the deal would help the Tax Authority recruit high-quality employees.

Shai Aharonovich, director general of the Tax Authority, said that the authority would conduct “intensive negotiations” over the next few months to form a deal for workers not covered in the agreement. He thanked the authority’s workers for maintaining “the economic strength of the state of Israel” through their work.

Border Inspectors at the Allenby Crossing: Bonus of 50,000 Shekels and a Retroactive Salary Increase of 220 Shekels per Month

The fifth and final collective agreement signed by the Histadrut on Thursday was for the border inspection workers at the Allenby border crossing with Jordan. The agreement, signed between the Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the Population and Immigration Authority, and the union of border inspectors at the crossing, will provide a bonus of up to 50,000 shekels (about $14,000) for the workers, as well as a salary increase of 220 shekels (about $60) per month applied retroactively from May 2023.

Border inspection workers employed at the crossings of the Population and Immigration Authority are assigned to shifts at the bridge and work under special conditions, made more complex given that the bridge serves as an international border crossing for residents of the Palestinian Authority. In recent years, the crossing has operated 24 hours a day.

Alkalay, chair of the government employees union, noted that the work at the crossing is difficult and conducted during odd hours. He said that the wage agreement under the new deal reflected the reality of the work.

“The border inspectors at the Allenby Crossing are dedicated workers who deserve full compensation. We deal with a complex reality while managing interactions with the Palestinian population,” Allenby border inspection workers union chair David Abutbul said. “I hope this agreement will help improve the working conditions and service of the workers, and we will continue to work to promote their conditions and improve their wages.”

Histadrut Chair Bar-David described the deal as “an honorable agreement.” “This agreement shows that even during difficult times, solutions can be found,” he said.

Malkin, the commissioner of wages, said that the agreement “took quite a bit of time to finalize.” “The workers have an important role. I wish them success and hope they will enjoy the benefits of this agreement,” he said.

“At the end of the day, there are workers who complete the tasks, and they should be rewarded,” Nayif Hano, human resources director at the Population and Immigration Authority, said. He expressed hope that further collective agreements may soon follow for workers at the authority’s Enforcement and Foreigners Administration.

This article was translated from Hebrew by Leah Schwartz from Davar.