State-employed social workers are not even seeking a salary increase or better job perks, but after ten weeks of sanctions find themselves in a vacuum, with no substantial action from any cabinet minister or government ministry.

The social workers explain that they can no longer attempt to continue carrying out their jobs in a professional fashion with a critical shortage of at least 1,000 additional professionals, calling on the Ministry of Welfare & Social Services to create additional jobs to permit hiring more manpower.

The social workers explain that they are responsible for the well-being of many children and others in crisis – and to their dismay, there is no possibility of handling the current caseload realities.

In a move towards compelling a cabinet response to their sanctions, on Sunday all offices have been closed and all treatment and acceptance of new cases have been halted.

Among those supporting strike leaders’ demands for added positions is Minister of Welfare & Social Services Yitzchak Herzog.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)