The salary of the assistants in the kindergartens is before the summation.
This will remove the last essential obstacle on the way to signing a comprehensive agreement for the public sector (Photo: ShutterStock)
Progress in the negotiations on the framework agreement between the Histadrut and the Ministry of Finance. In the discussions between the parties that began yesterday afternoon and continued until four o'clock in the morning, an agreement was reached on the helpers' wages, the dispute regarding which is delaying the signing of the entire framework agreement.
The chairman of the Histadrut, Arnon Bar David, demands a 20% increase in the starting salary for assistants from NIS 5,900 to NIS 7,000 to 7,500 gross per month, and an additional increase according to professional progress up to NIS 10,000. On the other hand, the Director General of Finance, Shlomi Heisler, and the head of salary, Efi Malkin, oppose the move, and are willing to compromise on a gradual increase in salary that will be spread over several years. This afternoon, the discussions will continue, with the goal of signing the framework agreement this week.
Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar David. Close to dismantling the last mine on the way to a comprehensive agreement (photo: Histadrut spokespersons)
The Histadrut's insistence on raising the wages of the helpers, as a condition for signing the entire framework agreement, came against the backdrop of a pirate strike by helpers across the country, who were angry that the Histadrut did not take care of their low wages and their difficult working conditions, and announced an "illness".
The local authorities find it difficult to recruit assistants because of the low wages they receive, and the manpower shortage increases the burden on them and leads to the closing of kindergartens when an assistant is absent from her work.
After the settlement of the disputes regarding the assistants, the Histadrut and the Ministry of Finance will be able to sign the new framework agreement, which should include a 1.5% wage increase from 2020 and the shortening of the work week, which is currently 42 hours, and is considered particularly long compared to the other OECD countries.
In addition, "aid boxes" will be activated for specific sectors, similar to the Corona period, which will receive special compensation for wage erosion beyond the total compensation.
The special agreements will be subject to expansion orders that will also be valid for workers who are not unionized in the Histadrut.
Of money
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assistants
the Histadrut
