Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini today is set to carry out his threat to declare a general labor dispute today to protest price rises and tax hikes, which will allow the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) to declare a general strike after the mandatory two-week cooling off period.
The government can fend off the announcement, if it complies with Eini's demands to immediately raise the minimum wage, change water rates, and slash the government-controlled price of fuel and bread.
The first protest will begin tomorrow, when Israel Scouts will distribute leaflets at 70 intersections nationwide, and a large demonstration at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv is being planned.
Eini told “IDF Radio" (Galei Zahal) about yesterday's meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "There was no dialogue to find solutions. The prime minister heard what we had to say, and the meeting ended."
"Galei Zahal": So the road to a general strike is open?
Eini: "Yes. I don’t like strikes, but someone has to do something. Until the strike, we are planning protests nationwide. The cuts in ministries' budgets is evasion, and not serious. There is tax surplus of NIS 12 billion. That's a lot of money and it should be used."
Eini added, "A young couple cannot buy an apartment, while rent is soaring. I proposed to the prime minister to set up a joint committee, because, right now, only the governor [Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer] is dealing with this. There's a lot of land in the periphery, which the government could give to contractors for free with incentives to build quickly. True, there would be fewer tax revenues; so what? We'll house tens of thousands of young couples in the Negev and Galilee, where home prices will be NIS 400,000-500,000, and there will be a lot of jobs, which will contribute greatly to the economy."
Eini said, "There's no one to talk to. Nothing is being done, they are not even willing to listen. There are huge budget surpluses. The government can allow itself to take measures to help young couples."
As for the general strike, Eini said, "We're not launching this alone. The entire nation of Israel is joining the struggle. Maybe, for the first time, the people will go out onto the streets. They are fed up now, and that makes all the difference."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 10, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011