Yacimovich, Levin demand Knesset recognize parliamentary aides’ union

Knesset director-general Ronen Plott refuses to meet with recently unionized Knesset aides.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Knesset aides 370 (photo credit: The Parliamentary Aides’ Union)
Knesset aides 370
(photo credit: The Parliamentary Aides’ Union)
In a rare case of cooperation, coalition chairman Yariv Levin (Likud Beytenu) and opposition leader Shelly Yacimovich (Labor) demanded that Knesset director-general Ronen Plott recognize the newly formed parliamentary aides’ union on Sunday.
More than a third of the Knesset’s aides joined the Histadrut labor federation two weeks ago, but Plott will not meet with them, saying he is not their direct employer.
“Saying that there are not employee-employer relations between the Knesset and parliamentary aides will not hold up in court,” Yacimovich wrote to Plott.
“The Knesset directly pays the aides’ salaries and is their physical work place.”
The opposition leader called for Plott to be an “enlightened employer” and a “moral lighthouse,” setting an example to others.
Levin wrote in a separate letter that the fact the aides are not recognized as Knesset employees violates their rights as workers.
“Their unionization is the appropriate opportunity for the Knesset to enter negotiations with the aides’ elected representatives in order to settle their work terms,” Levin added. “I am aware that making parliamentary aides Knesset employees is a significant change. However, I believe we must act in that direction.”


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