Ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday, some of the workers devoting their lives to helping those with disabilities have organized to improve their wages and working conditions. More than 700 workers of Adi Negev, a rehabilitation village for severely disabled people located in southern Israel, will benefit from a collective agreement signed last week between the Histadrut, the union, and the management.
Founded in 2005, Adi Negev serves more than 300 residents and special education students and provides outpatient care to thousands more. A significant portion of the village’s staff are residents of the western Negev and the area around Gaza, parts of Israel that were hit hard in the October 7 attacks.
During the attacks, terrorists passed close by to the village but miraculously didn’t enter. But nine workers or family members of workers lost their lives in the massacres. Those losses, alongside an increased number of patients for an overextended staff, led the union to launch negotiations for a new collective agreement.
The collective agreement covers a period of four years and includes a monthly wage increase of 1,000 shekels ($275) per worker. The agreement also increases seniority pay and other salary bonuses and provides a larger budget for staff recreation.
“It’s hard to put into words the year experienced by the hundreds of workers of Adi Negev. Their determination and dedication to those in their care, in light of the harsh security reality and the trials that some of them experienced on October 7, is inspirational in my eyes,” Norbert Bukovza, chairman of the Histadrut’s Negev Region, said. “I am happy that we succeeded in signing the best agreement possible for them.”
Osher Cohen, head of the Adi Negev workers union, described the agreement as a success story in partnership between the workers, the Histadrut, and the village management. “I am very happy that our workers, who work day and night for those in their care, will be compensated as they deserve,” she said. “I want to heartily thank the village management, who demonstrated humanity, care, and deep understanding of the difficult year experienced by the workers of the village, to the Histadrut and to Norbert Bukovza and Yakir Oknin in particular who accompanied us with dedication the entire path and care for all of our needs, and of course to the wonderful union members.”
This article was translated from Hebrew by Leah Schwartz.
