"If what the press reports materializes, and workers committees at monopolies are declared a monopoly themselves, we will oppose it with determination up to declaring a general strike. We will not let the right to strike to be infringed," said Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) Trade Union Division chairman Avi Nissenkorn in response to a "Globes" report earlier this week that there is an initiative to declare workers committees at monopolies are declared monopolies themselves.
At a panel moderated by "Globes" editor-in-chief Hagai Golan at the annual Antitrust Authority conference today, Nissenkorn said, "The right to protest and to sign labor contracts is a basic right. We will not permit any infringement of this right. We favor reform. However, it should be understood that if the reforms affect the workers, we have the right and duty to participate."
Nissenkorn is the number 2 man at the Histadrut and the frontrunner to succeed Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini, who announced in November that he is stepping down.
Ministry of Finance Budget Director Amir Levy said, "In places where there is competition, the workers do not think about striking because of an initiative to increase competition. For example, there are initiatives to increase competition against Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ) and Tnuva Food Industries Ltd., which is liable to affect the companies, but their employees do not think about going on strike. If the Histadrut waives the ultimate weapon, as Bezeq did, the Histadrut, too, will benefit as the representative of workers and will contribute to democracy, and we as consumers will benefit. If someone strikes, I want the consumer to have an alternative. This is just as important as the basic right to unionize."
Nissenkoren responded, "If Tnuva were to announce layoffs, we'd declare a labor dispute, and that's fine. So why when Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) (TASE: ELEC.B22) announces layoffs, it's forbidden to declare a labor dispute? The Histadrut favors reforms, and it has already demonstrated that it's a worthy partner in reaching courageous decisions for the good of the economy. Workers are not the enemy, and understandings should be reached with them. The real problem in the economy is inequality. The things that the government is doing won't narrow gaps, and may exacerbate them. There is a conceptual distortion here."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 21, 2014
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