The Finance Ministry and the country's social workers union on Wednesday reached an agreement for better employment conditions, ending a 17-day long strike.
The Israel Union of Social Workers accepted a government offer that includes a pay reform. NIS 200 million will be allocated for raises in July 2021 and further budgets will be transferred once the sides reach an agreement on salaries.
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Social workers protesting working conditions in Tel Aviv on Tuesday
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
Both parties also agreed on a NIS 70 million budget for protection programs, including a NIS 9,000-11,000 bonus for each social worker in 2021.
The resolution is scheduled to go up for Cabinet approval as early as next Sunday.
Union chair Inbal Hermoni celebrated the agreement in an official statement to workers, writing, “We won!”
Finance Minister Israel Katz also welcomed the deal, saying “we will not leave anyone behind."
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(L-R) Histadrut labor federation leader Arnon Bar-David, Union of Social Workers chair Inbal Hermoni, Finance Minister Israel Katz, Minister of Welfare Itzik Shmuli and Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen on Wednesday after reaching an agreement to end a social workers' strike
(Photo: Histadrut)
"We agreed on historic steps that will change the status of the [social] workers and will enable them to continue their dedicated work under conditions befitting the task they have taken upon themselves,” he said.
Histadrut labor federation leader Arnon Bar-David, who threatened on Tuesday that without an agreement to the labor dispute, additional public sector workers could go on strike as a sign of solidarity, also praised the decision.
"This new agreement helps safeguard the rights of a dedicated working community that works day and night to reach out to all people in need,” said Bar-David.