On Sunday, the Histadrut signed a special collective agreement with the management of the Ashdod port and the Ministry of Finance. The agreement applies the Histadrut’s July 2023 public sector framework agreement to the 1,300 Ashdod port workers, raising the workers’ wages and shortening their workweek.
“I welcome the agreement, which strengthens the workers of the Ashdod port, who make sure that Israel is connected to the world while our enemies try to constrict our movement,” Histadrut Chair Arnon Bar-David said at the signing of the agreement. “Particularly during these difficult days, it’s important to continue supporting the workers out of the knowledge that strengthening them means strengthening the entire Israeli economy,” he continued.
The agreement will be applied retroactively from July 2023, when the framework agreement was signed. Workers will receive a 1.44% pay increase during the years 2024 through 2027, as long as the port remains profitable. Workers employed for five days each week will work two hours less each week, resulting in a 40-hour workweek. Each hour worked will increase in value by 5%, meaning that working fewer hours will not result in less pay. Workers employed six days a week will see each hour worked increase in value by 6.87%, retroactive from April 2024.
As long as the port continues to make a profit, workers will also be eligible for an annual bonus of 2,000 shekels ($531).
The Histadrut and port management also agreed to recruit additional longshoremen for temporary work in order to deal with the vast amount of work at the port caused by the ongoing war.
“The workers of the Ashdod port, who go up in their cranes even under the threat of missiles, ensure the business continuity of the state,” transportation workers union head Eyal Yadin said. “The Histadrut and I are proud of you. Today we are bringing an important agreement, that includes the improvement of wages for the port workers by virtue of the framework agreement. The partnership in the negotiations between the management and the workers and the high level of professionalism among everyone has allowed us to grow together, to bring the agreement to be signed and to bring forward thinking about a successful, service-oriented, and professional port.”
Shaul Shneider, chair of the Ashdod port board, also praised the new agreement. “The port of Ashdod sees its human capital as its most important resource, and developing it is of paramount importance. Despite the war and the challenges still standing before us, we are happy to sign this agreement which will improve the conditions of the workers,” he said. “Our workers displayed true civilian bravery this year.”
Ashdod port CEO Nissan Levy also noted the bravery of the workers. “Even during this period of many challenges, the workers of the Ashdod port continue to act bravely and with determination, even in the most complicated conditions that this period has brought, and continue to ensure continuity of functioning for the good of the Israeli economy,” he said.
Nir Eisenberg, director of the Histadrut’s maritime division, also expressed his pride in the workers and his gratification that a deal had been reached. “Thank you to all the partners who helped and labored to bring this agreement to the finish line,” he said.
This article was translated from Hebrew and edited for context by Leah Schwartz.
