Just before the summer vacations, the Foreign Ministry is on its way back to sanctions to the point of a full strike. At the end of a stormy workers' meeting held Monday morning, the ministry responsible for Israel's political functioning and the service of citizens abroad threatens to return to the atmosphere of chaos that prevailed during the previous government.
This is despite Cohen's efforts to resolve the conflict and optimism on both sides. At first, it seemed that the negotiations would end months ago, but according to the workers, the talks are stalled due to procrastination by the Ministry of Finance and no solution is in sight. "We already thought it was behind us, but the Finance Ministry interprets goodwill as weakness," the union said.
Since Foreign Minister Eli Cohen took office, contacts have been held between the workers and management, and significant progress has been made on key issues. At the ministry's toast on the occasion of Passover, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced the allocation of NIS 55 million from the ministry's budget for the agreement.
Minister Eli Cohen (archive), photo: Coco
According to the employees, it has recently become clear that sources in the Ministry of Finance are stalling the process and preventing reaching an agreement, which will open a new page in the ministry's labor relations. The workers' union accuses the Finance Ministry of wanting to sabotage the talks and of effectively masking the key understandings that have already been reached.
The Foreign Ministry workers' committee said in response: "This is a time for actions, not words. The decisions made at the workers' meeting are binding on the workers' committee and we will act in accordance with our obligation to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are on the verge of sanctions and, God forbid, a strike in the ministry, which can be avoided if all the relevant parties that are supposed to be signatories to the arrangement come to their senses. We demand an end to the abusive employment in the Ministry and the erosion of the rights of workers who are at the forefront of diplomatic activity and fulfill their duties with great dedication. We will no longer be able to remain silent in the face of the ongoing damage. All those involved and bearing direct and indirect responsibility must put an end to the procrastination and resolve the crisis."
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