Backed by Israel’s Histadrut national labor federation, employees of the Foreign Ministry are threatening a strike over labor conditions and a planned budget cut. Labor representatives told Israel Radio that they are threatening by declaring a job action, which is often a precursor to a strike. The law demands a 14-day word dispute period before declaring a strike, a period that is intended to promote negotiations, but rarely does this happen. Negotiations generally only begin after a strike is declared.

When asked if they would actually strike during the planned visit of US President Barak Obama, one labor representative stated “we are planning harsh actions and if this is what it must be, we will do this too.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)