Histadrut labor federation in bid for general strike over contract workers

The general strike will start on Wednesday (8 Feb.), after talks with the Finance Ministry over the employment status of contract workers broke down again
 
The Histadrut labor federation submitted last week another request for a general strike to the National Labor Court, from Wednesday, February 8.
 
The request was submitted after talks with the Finance Ministry over the employment status of contract workers broke down again.
 
Histadrut Chairman Ofer Eini, Finance Ministry budgets director Gal Hershkovitz, Federation of Israeli Economic Organizations Chairman Shraga Brosh and other representatives of the various sides met Monday night in an effort to break the standoff.
 
According to the Histadrut, the meeting ended over the refusal of Treasury officials to move contract workers into direct employment.
 
The Treasury declined to comment on the meeting.
 
Last wednesday, National Labor Court President Nili Arad decided to allow the union to set a date for renewing the strike.
 
Following Arad's decision, Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini convened top Histadrut officials, who decided on the coming Wednesday.
 
The reasons are to give the public sufficient warning to prepare for the shutting down of most government and public services.