Contradiction Contradicted

Employees at 25 regional offices of the Histadrut Labor Federation held a protest strike on November 13, 2001, over staff reductions planned for district offices and Histadrut headquarters.

Histadrut is broke.  It has a budget deficit of NIS 1.5 billion ($355 million) and debts of NIS 650 million ($155 million) it owes to the Kupat Holim Clalit health management organization.

Histadrut is facing the same reality that every enterprise in debt and losing money confronts—how to cut costs.  The obvious means is to reduce staffing.  Histadrut says it must fire 100 workers.  The workers say Histadrut is plotting to fire 450 workers.

Isn’t this just absolutely wonderful.  The workers of Histadrut are striking to “smash the bosses,” which, in this case, is the Histadrut itself.

In this one case, we agree with the workers.  Go for it.  Onward Jewish soldiers.  Smash the bosses.  Destroy the Histadrut.  Long live the Histadrut’s workers.

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