A two-hour general strike called by Histadrut today shut down all government offices and most public services in a protest against what the trade union federation called the deteriorating economic situation. The private sector was not affected, however, A labor court ruled yesterday that private employers could “assemble for protest meetings” during work hours but could not strike.
Nevertheless, airports were closed, docks were idle, and there was no train or bus service for the duration of the strike. Kupat Holim, the Histadrut sick-fund, shut its doors, as did chain food and department stores affiliated with Histadrut. Classes were suspended in schools for two hours, and radio and television broadcasting was blacked out except for hourly news bulletins. Histadrut Secretary General Yisrael Kessar said the strike was intended “to awaken the government to worsening unemployment. But Finance Minister Yitzhak Modai said the strike was a Histadrut tactic to pressure the government on the eve of new wage hikes that would undermine economic stability.”
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