Bethel Finance: Agreement to end strike hits last minute hitch

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The heads of the Histadrut, employers associations and Ministry of Finance are very close to signing an agreement to end the general strike, which began on Wednesday morning. However, the Ministry of Finance and Histadrut hit a last minute hitch over the number of government contract workers to be made into full employees.

That dispute aside, the proposed deal comprises separate agreements for the public and private sectors. The agreement with the private sector is more dramatic, although the deal with the public sector includes major breakthroughs on the subject of contract workers. The agreement is being seen as historic and improves the status of contract workers. However, the Histadrut insists that there is still a long way to go before a true revolution on conditions for contract employees is complete.

The agreement between the private sector and the Histadrut was first revealed by "Globes" earlier this week. Under the agreement, cleaning workers who have been employed as contract workers for more than nine months, in at least a 90% capacity, will be hired as full time workers by their place of employment.

The problem here is that the nine months will only begin from the signing of the agreement, and the fear is that employers will ask contractors to move the cleaners around. "Globes" understands that the Histadrut has insisted on a clause in the agreement that requires "good will" from employers, and will subject employers who do not show good will to law suits.

In the public sector, the government has stubbornly insisted not to take in a massive number of contract workers in particular, and cleaners in general. Here the agreement stipulates that salaries will be a minimum of NIS 4,500 and will for the first time be linked to collective agreements for salary rises in the public sector. Cleaners and security staff will also receive these rises. These employees will enjoy hikes that have already been agreed for 2.25% in January 2013 and a further 1% in July 2013.

The government has agreed to hire as permanent employees those contract workers who are employed "shoulder to shoulder" alongside regular staff and are performing the same function.

Meanwhile 350,000 workers remain on strike for a second day including the banks, stock exchange, railways, government ministries, National Insurance Institute and local authorities. In contrast to yesterday Ben Gurion Airport is operating as usual.