Chairman Ofir Eini of the Histadrut Labor Federation and Finance Minister Yuval Steiniz are scheduled to meet, Tuesday morning, in an attempt to head off a general strike, scheduled to start on Wednesday on the issue of contract labor, where the public and private sector hire workers through personnel agencies, thus denying the workers social benefits and job security. A Monday-evening meetingbetween ChairmanAviNissnkoren of the Histadrut'strade union department and Budget Division chiefGalHershkovitz of the Treasuryended withoutresults.
The union is demanding that the state put contract workers on the government payroll. If theparties do not reachan understanding,government ministries, local authorities,banks,universitiesand Israel Railwayswill not work,andpublic hospitalsoperatein emergency mode.