While the Ministry of Finance has taken a tough position in negotiations with the striking nurses, some port employees will receive a monthly pay hike of NIS 3,500-4,000.
In May, the Ministry of Finance and the Ashdod Port workers agreed that 140 workshop employees would receive a pay hike. Veteran port workers currently earn NIS 30,000-35,000 a month, and newer employees earn NIS 15,000.
The Ministry of Finance had refused to sign the agreement, but it has now agreed to approve it if the employees agree to certain conditions set by the ministry. The average salary of port workers is NIS 24,000, compared with NIS 15,000 for the nurses.
If the Ashdod Port agreement is approved, it is further proof that it is possible to sign salary agreements during an election campaign, especially after the agreement recently signed with the Israel Railways workers. This undermines the Ministry of Finance argument in the negotiations with the nurses that it is not possible to approve pay hikes during the run-up to an election, and that the negotiations must wait until after the elections.
It should be noted that the total cost of the agreement with the dozens of Ashdod Port workshop employees is much smaller than the cost of the agreement under negotiation with the nurses. The Ashdod Port agreement costs NIS 9 million, compared with NIS 700 million under discussion with the nurses.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 18, 2012
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