(IsraelNN.com) In an unscheduled live televised press conference a short time ago, Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained that the government has extended its hand to the Histadrut national labor union and the union has "rejected the outstretched hand".
Netanyahu added he had just met with union leader Amir Peretz, the fifth meeting in a week, and union officials remain unwilling to discuss details of the emergency economic recovery plan, or engage in serious negotiations.
The senior minister explained that while it is preferable to reach a mutually agreeable solution, the government as a sovereign body is required to extricate the nation from the current fiscal crisis and that would result in unilateral legislation aimed at circumventing the union leadership. This he explained was the case in 1985 when a similar crisis existed, but at that time, the union leadership realized the seriousness of the situation and did engage in serious talks, exhibiting good will towards reaching an agreement.
Netanyahu added the union was "throwing sand in the public's eyes" in an effort to distort their understanding of the government's plan – reiterating he prefers negotiations with the union in the hope of reaching an agreement and is not seeking unilateral decisions regarding the nation's workplace.
Netanyahu added he had just met with union leader Amir Peretz, the fifth meeting in a week, and union officials remain unwilling to discuss details of the emergency economic recovery plan, or engage in serious negotiations.
The senior minister explained that while it is preferable to reach a mutually agreeable solution, the government as a sovereign body is required to extricate the nation from the current fiscal crisis and that would result in unilateral legislation aimed at circumventing the union leadership. This he explained was the case in 1985 when a similar crisis existed, but at that time, the union leadership realized the seriousness of the situation and did engage in serious talks, exhibiting good will towards reaching an agreement.
Netanyahu added the union was "throwing sand in the public's eyes" in an effort to distort their understanding of the government's plan – reiterating he prefers negotiations with the union in the hope of reaching an agreement and is not seeking unilateral decisions regarding the nation's workplace.