Strike canceled as Treasury, Histadrut reach agreement

Negotiating teams headed by finance minister, Histadrut chairman talk through night; reports say meeting had “positive atmosphere.”

Yuval Steinitz 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file[)
Yuval Steinitz 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file[)
Negotiating teams headed by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini overnight Monday reached an agreement regarding a 3.5 percent hike in worker salaries for 2009, 2010 and 2011. This means that a general workers strike that was expected to take place has now been cancelled.
Reports from the meeting, which began at 6:00 p.m on Monday, stated that the talks were being conducted in a “positive atmosphere.”
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As part of the agreement public workers will receive an increase in salary of 6.25 percent over the space of three and a half years, from Januray 2009 to June 2011. The increases will be paid in three separate stages.
Each public worker that the agreement affects will receive a one off payment of NIS 2000, no matter what their salary. This payment will be received in November 2010.
The core of the dispute was the Histadrut’s demand for a 3.5 percent hike in worker salaries for 2009, 2010 and 2011, a total of 10.5%. The Finance Ministry had only agreed to a one-time raise of 1.5%.
The strike, if it were to go ahead, would have affected all government agencies and local authorities, as well as Ben-Gurion Airport and other airports, and the sea ports. The courts, post offices, National Insurance Institute and utility offices would remain closed as well.