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Histadrut launches general strike
Ynet reporters
Published: 08.02.12, 13:49
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12 Talkbacks for this article
1. Just brilliant.
Henry from New York ,   USA   (02.08.12)
People, including soldiers, had trouble getting to work today. What if there is an attack and people can't get to their bases? Sure the government could have scabs come in, but it'd be better if that weren't necessary as it would waste time that could mean the difference between thousands of lives.
2. MEANWHILE
Robert Goldman ,   Kfar Saba ISRAEL   (02.08.12)
While our govt fights giving an increase to contract workers of 25% which translates to another 1000 shekels a month which would bring them up to about 5000 shekels a month pay the Kenesset votes themselves a sweet little raise of 1100 shekels extra a month bringing them up to about 34000 shekels a month plus all those freebe's they get on top! Time to kick them all to the curb and start from scratch
3. Israel has shutdown for the day....
susie shiksa   (02.08.12)
tell us y net exactly what do they all want?
4. Henry from New York
Barbara ,   Haifa Israel   (02.08.12)
Trust us in Israel. If something happened that required military action, all the transportation authorities that were on strike would immediately begin to work. Was like that on Yom Kippur War - whole country closed down - then bam! in seconds, things got moving.
5. Leave it up to the unions to strangle the country
Al   (02.08.12)
Its nothing to do about the 'workers', its all about regime change. Every single western country out there who cowtowed to the unions over the past 40 years, is looking at bankrupcy. The politcos irrespective of which stripe will always enrich themselves on your account including the Histashmutz. Just when Israel was starting to become economically self sufficient, comes along the union to strangle it. Keep giving into the unions and you will become a Greece.
6. #2 wrong
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (02.08.12)
The problem with Israel is that the things are too expensive, thanks to import monopolies and the Histadrut that gives extremely high wages at the ports, banks, insurance companies, electric company and others. Regarding the poor workers, the government has agreed to raise their salaries and conditions. The Histadrut wants them to get permanent positions. That means that someone will have to pay for a proven inefficient system, meaning that the people who work (me) will pay more taxes and be poorer, while Histadrut members get all my money. This time, Eini is the bad guy.
7. Barb you have selective memory...On Yom Kippur 1973
Al   (02.08.12)
Israel did move as you say but at the end of that first day 600 sioldiers in the Sinai and on the Syrian front were dead. Were it not for some miracle, Israel came out of that war alive. Ever since then Israels IDF has been weak. The only thing that has gone up is Israels economy. Dont allow the 'UNIONS' to strangle what gaines you have made over the past 20 years. The unions do not have your interests at heart. They are all about regime change.
8. #4 - I trust they would, but the question is how long it
Henry from New York ,   USA   (02.08.12)
would take to get everything running and how many people would be lost in that time.
9. It's Tu'bishvat - parents taking kids to plant trees.
rebecca ,   Modiin   (02.08.12)
In Israel even strikes have more than one purpose.
10. Masochism-unbelievable!!!
al mann ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (02.08.12)
The strike is citizen against citizen. No one can gain anything. Doesn't anyone realize this? Someone's plus becomes another's minus. We are actually fighting each other- a miniature civil war. GET IT???
11. Does this mean Israel is going to postspone their war?
Ken ,   Burma at Peace   (02.08.12)
12. Israel needs Margret Thatcher
zionist forever   (02.08.12)
In the 70s the British unions were all powerful just like the Histadrut is today and they were constantly going on strike and bringing the country to a standstill sometimes over petty things just like the Histadrut does today. Then came Thatcher and she smashed the power of the unions and today they don't hold the power they once, they need good reasons to strike and there is no one union showing solidarity for another. If the teachers go on strike because they want more money the airport workers cannot say we support the teachers they should earn more money so we will strike as well to show solidarity. If we are going to keep unions then their power must be curbed and they must have good reasons for striking. The HIstadrut in its current form belongs in a previous era when socialism was king and government was responsible for running everything from airports - public toilets. Time to either get rid of the Histadrut or bring it into a 21st century free market economy.
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