An evening honoring Histadrut employees who serve in the military reserves and their spouses was held on Monday, with words of tribute from leaders of the Histadrut.
“It was personally important to me to come because I truly think there is no real, effective way for us to express gratitude to you—women and men who, in a single day, left your families and went to risk your lives so that we can live in security, we and our children at home,” Roy Yaakov, acting chair of the Histadrut, told the attendees. “I know of no way, neither monetary nor through any ceremony, that can truly thank you for this unique act. So what we are doing this evening is simply to give you a bit of appreciation and show how much we value you.”
Yaakov emphasized the immediate response carried out by the Histadrut following the October 7 attacks, including housing hundreds of evacuated citizens at the Histadrut’s International Institute of Leadership. He also mentioned the agreements the Histadrut reached to protect the rights of workers serving in the reserves and their spouses.
“Within the framework of the Knesset and the government, we made two agreements—for those serving and for spouses: expanding protection from dismissal from 30 days to 60 days, up to eight days of absence, and many other things,” he said. “There was a hotline here that operated not only for Histadrut members but for everyone who serves.”
Dudu Bezalel, director-general of the Histadrut, who himself served more than 100 days in reserve duty starting on October 7, also spoke. “Someone told me before the event that while in other workplaces people are made to feel miserable for being in the reserves, here you hold events for us and make things good for the employees. This event is part of a bundle of things that we have given and continue to give you and your families.”
He noted that the Histadrut provides inspiration for other workplaces regarding treatment of their workers. “It is important that they see what we are doing for the reservists and their families,” he said.
Addressing the attendees, he said, “I want to say thank you, thank you, for serving the state and leaving everything and going—it is not taken for granted anywhere in the world, and certainly not in our country with all the political tensions around the army even before and also after October 7.”
He also thanked the managers for supporting their reservist workers.
Also offering remarks was Irit Forian-Weizman, VP of Human Resources and one of the initiators of the event. “Serving in reserve duty over the past two years has not been a simple task. It is true that at the beginning everyone stood behind you and saluted and supported you, but over time everyone returned to routine and somewhat forgot the reservists, some of whom are still in rotations,” she said.
David Partiali, chair of the National Histadrut Workers' Council, also offered his blessing and thanked the employees serving in reserve duty.
Adir Glusker, a professional union secretary in the Netanya district, spoke on behalf of the reservist employees. “I have been in 460 days of reserve duty and I am still under call-up, rotation after rotation,” he said. “This is the story of all of us—it was not easy for us, but we knew that this was our responsibility. Behind each one stands an anchor—thanks to our families. To all the spouses who are here this evening and to those who stayed at home with worry and loneliness. Thanks to the Histadrut for the understanding and support and the ability to read the magnitude of the hour.”