Residents postpone resignation after court hearing
Medical residents follow through on resignation threat but most report for duty after hospital administrators warn of decision's legal ramifications. Residents later agree to freeze resignation until Monday
The morning saw most of them eventually return to their posts, after respective hospital administrators – prompted by the Health Ministry – explained the decision's legal ramifications. Such violation of a court order means the residents could be held in contempt of the court – an offense which may even result in jail time.
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On Wednesday, the State requested the National Labor Court to hold an urgent hearing on the matter, following the residents' refusal to postpone the resignation by a few days, until a solution can be found.
Judge Nili Arad set the hearing for Thursday afternoon, and ruled that the residents cannot leave their workplace until the hearing is concluded.
A doctor at Sourasky Medical Center on Thursday morning (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
During the hearing Judge Arad urged the parties to find a solution through dialogue, stressing that the it should not be a legal one. "There are no winners and losers with a legal ruling in this conflict, everyone will lose in this verdict."
The residents finally agreed to freeze their resignation letters until Monday at midnight as long as negotiations are being held.
The residents said they would try to convince their colleagues not to resign but asked that those who wish to end their position will be able to do so despite ongoing negotiations. If the government rejects this answer, the National Labor Court will be forced to rule in the matter.
At Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, residents failed to show up for work at six wards, which left the specialists to attend to patients. According to the hospital, all services were provided as usual.
Director of the Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer Prof. Zeev Rothestein asked the residents to postpone their resignation. After a 3-hour meeting, the residents agreed and decided to wait until Monday.
Residents held meetings at Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, Rambam in Haifa and Sheba Tel Hashomer, and discussed the options at their disposal.
The Health Ministry collected information from the hospitals and instructed their directors to personally warn each employee of the legal ramifications of failing to show up for work.
By refusing to uphold the National Labor Court's decision, residents risked being in contempt of court, which could lead to financial sanctions against them and even incarceration.
On Wednesday, the residents announced that their plans to stage a mass resignation was still in effect. The heads of the residents' protest met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, but decided to refuse his request to delay the move until after the High Holidays.
The stalemate in negotiations means that on Thursday, 117 of Rambam's residents will resign, as will 100 of Sheba's residents and 35 of their Bnei Zion colleagues. Nationwide, 734 residents are expected to tender their resignations on Thursday.
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