Representatives of the four economic sectors - the Finance Ministry, the Histadrut Labor Union, Bank of Israel, and the manufacturers - met yesterday in an attempt to set the guidelines for a year-long package deal. Meanwhile, here is a rundown of the strikes in Israel:
Labor and Welfare Ministry workers claim that the wages agreement signed with them three years ago is not being honored. They are also protesting the planned privatization of four institutions run by the Ministry, something that they say will lead to the layoff of 400 workers. Shelters for children and battered women are threatening to send their charges home and close their doors if Ministry employees do not transfer the monies they deserve.
The main office of the National Insurance Institute is striking because of political appointments. Some NII payments have been made, but only to a quarter of those who deserve income supplements. Some 900,000 families will not receive their monthly child allowance payments tomorrow.
University lecturers have been striking for two weeks, protesting the expiration two years ago of their wage agreement. The lecturers say that in light of the difficult economic situation, they have downgraded their demands. The students, for their part, have begun a strike of their own to protest the evaporation in front of their eyes of the school year.
Firefighters are on strike today protesting their lack of equipment; hundreds of them blocked the entrance to the Finance Ministry, and several even blocked off Highway 443 to Modiin... Customs and VAT workers have been striking for three weeks, but their struggle appears to be nearing a solution... Lands Authority employees demand higher wages, but are not on a full-scale strike... Set to strike are municipal council employees and the High School Teachers Union.
Labor and Welfare Ministry workers claim that the wages agreement signed with them three years ago is not being honored. They are also protesting the planned privatization of four institutions run by the Ministry, something that they say will lead to the layoff of 400 workers. Shelters for children and battered women are threatening to send their charges home and close their doors if Ministry employees do not transfer the monies they deserve.
The main office of the National Insurance Institute is striking because of political appointments. Some NII payments have been made, but only to a quarter of those who deserve income supplements. Some 900,000 families will not receive their monthly child allowance payments tomorrow.
University lecturers have been striking for two weeks, protesting the expiration two years ago of their wage agreement. The lecturers say that in light of the difficult economic situation, they have downgraded their demands. The students, for their part, have begun a strike of their own to protest the evaporation in front of their eyes of the school year.
Firefighters are on strike today protesting their lack of equipment; hundreds of them blocked the entrance to the Finance Ministry, and several even blocked off Highway 443 to Modiin... Customs and VAT workers have been striking for three weeks, but their struggle appears to be nearing a solution... Lands Authority employees demand higher wages, but are not on a full-scale strike... Set to strike are municipal council employees and the High School Teachers Union.