Behind the Headlines Histadrut Election Today is Most Important in Its 56 Years

The Histadrut election tomorrow is the most important in the 56 years of the general labor federation. For the first time the Labor Party’s hegemony in the Histadrut is being challenged. Throughout the Histadrut history, Labor–Mapai and the groups that split from it or merged with it–controlled the federation. This includes not only the labor unions but also Koor, the giant industrial enterprise; Solel Boneh, the internationally-known construction company; Hamashbir, a countrywide marketing network; the Dan and Egged bus cooperatives which operate most of the public buses; and Kupat Holim, Israel’s largest sick fund. The Histadrut membership of 1,424,000 persons takes in 58 percent of the population.

The Knesset election last month in which Labor was ousted for the first time now presents a situation in which Likud hopes it can repeat its political victory on the national scene in the labor federation. Labor is set on retaining its hold on the Histadrut and Likud is equally determined in dislodging Labor because it believes that if Labor remains in control of the Histadrut it will result in a major obstacle to the government of Premier Menachem Begin carrying out its economic policies.

This may be the reason for the vitriolic campaign being waged by both sides. Normally, the Histadrut election is confined to a struggle between the various Labor groups for the control of the labor federation.

During the British Mandate the Histadrut was actually the government for the Jewish population, as it was Histadrut leaders who were at the head of the Vaad Leumi (the national committee) and the other local organizations. A glimpse of the Histadrut general secretaries since its establishment is most illustrative: David Ben Gurion (1920-1932), David Remez (1932-1945), Joseph Sprinzak (1945-1949). Since statehood they were Pinhas Lavon, Mordechai Namir, Aharon Becker, Yitzhak Ben Aharon and Yeruham Meshel who was elected to his post four years ago.

HISTADRUT POWER UNDIMINISHED

The power of the Histadrut did not diminish once the State of Israel was established. It was even more than a Ministry. Questions of transportation, of air and sea companies, of wages, of labor legislation, could not have been settled without the Histadrut–not to mention the rich industrial and commercial enterprises. The control of the Histadrut means having enormous power–covering some 72 percent of the health services, managing the economic enterprises and holding the hand on the button of labor relations.

There are eleven lists running for election to the Histadrut Council. There are 1,350,000 eligible voters. They will elect the Council which will elect the Histadrut Executive. The lists are: Labor Alignment, headed by incumbent secretary general Yeruham Meshel (last elections 58.31 percent). Likud headed by David Levy, slated for secretary general post if Likud wins (last elections 22.74 percent). Communists and Black Panthers (2.41 percent). Independent Liberals (5.97 percent). Religious workers headed by Histadrut Rabbi Menahem Hacohen (4.26 percent). Sheli, formerly Moked (1.72 percent). Hillel Zeidel, Ahdout group (for first time). Democratic Movement for Change (for first time). An independent list for personal elections, a Yemenite group and Black Panthers (1.62 percent).

The elections to the Histadrut are complicated. The voters cast ballots at the same time for the Histadrut Council, for the local Labor Council, for the Agricultural Workers Council, if one is an agricultural worker, for the Moetzet Hapolaoth, the women’s branch of Histadrut which has 700,000 members. There will be 2497 polling stations in working places and Histadrut institutions, 300 in army units and 870 in kibbutzim, moshavim and Arab villages. Voting lasts until 11 p.m. It will take at least 24 hours to tally the results.