Saturday, November 14, 2026

Monthly Issue/October 2019

Previous edition

Share of union members out of total workforce, 2012 - 2016 (Graphics: Davar)

Grass roots change

Organised labor versus inequality

A decade of change: unionized labor in Israel. While government policy remains conservative, tectonic changes in Israel have led to a decline in inequality in the country | How has this happened? | Three graphs tell the story

By Jonathan Kershenbaum and Caden Feldman-Gubbay 0

Emergency meeting of Internet and Tech union at Histadrut HQ following layoff announcement, 24th September 2019. Credit: Davar

White collar unions

Telecom workers in Israel fought for their jobs - and won. A campaign led by Histadrut head Arnon Bar David, managed to shift the tide after two major telecom companies announced massive layoffs just before the high holidays

By Nizzan Zvi Cohen 0

Histadrut unionization campaign with Palestinian construction workers at border crossing (Photo: Tal Burstein)

Solidarity

"Unionized labor recognizes no borders"

Over 5,000 new Histadrut members, all of them Palestinians. This summer, as part of an ongoing struggle to protect the lives of workers in the construction industry, Histadrut announced a campaign to raise awareness to workers' rights and safety in Israel | Nahad Sharliya, who headed the campaign: "A worker is a worker, no matter where he comes from, and he deserves his rights"

By Shai Nir 0

Histadrut chair Arnon Bar David

Haifa Port saga

Saved from privatization

The Marine Services Department will become a government-owned corporation.. Historic agreement at Haifa Port allows it to serve both ports in the Bay of Haifa | Histadrut chair Arnon Bar David: “The agreement will enable activity in the ports to become more efficient without damaging the status or rights of dockworkers”

By Nizzan Zvi Cohen 0

Workers in Harsa factory in Be'er Sheva in the south of Israel, briefed on the likelihood of their factory being closed down. The factory was moved to Turkey by the management.

Israeli economy

Prioritizing Israeli workers

Israeli courts rule against outsourcing of public sector jobs. Israeli courts rule against Ministry of Finance outsourcing public sector jobs despite the law giving Israeli based industries preference | Factories' closure threatens entire communities in Israel

By Omer Cohen 0

Cynthia Richburg prepares a product for shipment at an Amazon fulfillment center in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Enhancing solidarity

Unionized shopping

How should we, as organized workers, regard the arrival of Amazon to Israel? Put your money where your values are | The recent rise in numbers of unionized workers in Israel started in 2011, when the ideas of justice, solidarity and equality became popular again | It will keep growing only if we make sure that union members keep acting on their principles

By Keren Ofek 0

Cleaners in a medical center, Israel. Archive. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90.

Workers' rights

Cleaning up the hospitals

The hidden revolution in the corridors of Israel's hospitals. For the past few years more and more temporary, low paid workers hired through contractors, Jews and Arabs alike, are taken on as regular (and unionized) employees in Israel's hospitals | Ending contracted employees one work place at a time

By Yael Elnatan 0

A worker at the Eshkol Water Filtration Plant in northern Israel. The central filtration plant at the Eshkol site in Israel, constructed in June 2007 by Israel's National Water Company Mekorot, is the fourth largest plant in the world and the first of its kind in the country. he plant filters water pumped from Lake Kinneret. Archival. April 17, 2007. Photo by Moshe Shai/FLASH90.

Reforms, the right way

Working in accord

Histadrut and Mekorot signed a major reform agreement. Mekorot, Israel's national water company, faced a government decision aimed at expanding the company's development and infrastructure budget | Histadrut Chairmain Arnon Bar-David: "The Histadrut has been and will continue to be a full partner for all major reforms."

By Mor Hupert 0

What happens when a player has a signed contract but the management wants him out? (Shutterstock)

Fair play

Athletes of the world unite

Abusive working conditions for an athlete damage his career and his health. What happens when a player has a signed contract but the management wants him out? | Chen Dilmoni, player for Hapoel Haifa's soccer team, found out the hard way how an “outcast player” feels | How workers' rights is manifested in sports

By Lior Bartal 0

Kol Shofar factory in the Golan Heights. The art of producing shofars. (credit: Yael Elnatan)

Rosh Hashanah in Israel

The face behind the Shofar

In the Golan Heights, one man turned his passion for shofars into a vocation. As the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur approach, and the shofar blast attempts to open the gates of heaven, we set out to learn about shofar production at Shimon Keinan’s factory on Moshav Givat Yoav | What is a shofar made of? What makes a good shofar? And what do shofars have to do with Islam?

By Yael Elnatan 0