In February YWN reported that employees at Hadassah Medical Organization were compelled to loan management 3% of their January 2009 salary to keep the ailing medical organization afloat (reported HERE on YWN) but they were promised they would be reimbursed in March 2009’s salary, which is paid in April.

Now, employees received a letter from their union leaders that not only will they not receive their 3% back next month, but they will be compelled to accept an involuntary 2% pay cut for the next two years towards bailing out the Hadassah organization, which will only be returned in seven years.

According to the Yisrael HaYom report, the employees will also be compelled to give back five vacation days during the next two years – all towards keeping the Hadassah hospitals afloat.

There is much anger among employees, some feeling their union representatives have betrayed them, while the hospital’s senior directorate explains the steps are indeed mandatory of the organization is to remain operational, explaining the temporary measures are part of the overall fiscal rehabilitation plan.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)