The Histadrut HaClalit, Israel’s largest national trade union, submitted a formal notice of representative status and membership forms to Maccabi Healthcare Services management and the National Histadrut in October, declaring itself the health fund’s representative union. The move follows employees’ requests to transfer their representation to the Histadrut.
Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David said: “Thousands of Maccabi employees have made their voices heard loud and clear today. Their decision to join the Histadrut is a vote of confidence in a strong union’s ability to deliver results and protect workers’ rights. The Histadrut represents most healthcare workers in Israel, and Maccabi employees, too, will find in us a responsive and determined advocate in the fight to improve their employment conditions, pay and job security.”
Amichai Stinger, Director of the Union Organizing Division, said: “To Maccabi’s employees: welcome to the home of Israel’s workers. We are delighted and proud to stand alongside you at this moment. I am confident that together we will achieve great things.”
The initiative, developed over recent months, reflects the desire of thousands of employees to strengthen their collective bargaining power, improve their employment conditions, advance their rights and secure more effective representation in dealings with their employer.
It began with approaches from employees across a range of professions and departments at Maccabi who sought a change in union representation and a greater say over their pay, job security and working conditions.
Over recent months, the Histadrut’s regional branches and divisions, together with the Maccabi employees’ organizing committee, have held meetings and discussions with staff across the country, leading a broad organizing drive to give employees a strong and effective union.
The organizing committee said: “We, alongside many Maccabi employees—including nurses, administrative staff, allied health professionals and workers in other fields—are an integral part of Israel’s healthcare system, the vast majority of whose workers are represented by the Histadrut. Seeking to strengthen workers’ standing, improve their employment conditions and secure effective representation with real influence, we have chosen to leave the National Histadrut and join the Histadrut HaClalit. We hope talks between Maccabi management and the Histadrut will begin promptly, respecting employees’ wishes and allowing us to benefit from representation by Israel’s largest labor organization.”