Histadrut Industries Will Pay Advance Col Allowance; No Agreement Reached with Private Sector

Histadrut announced today that it will pay an interim cost-of-living allowance of close to 18 percent to all employes of Histadrut-owned companies despite the refusal by private employers to do the same.

Histadrut Secretary General Yeruham Meshel said the interim payment would be made later this month. The next regular COL allowance is due by February 1, 1984. The trade union federation has so far failed to reach agreement with private sector employes.

The Manufacturers Association, according to Meshel, is seeking unacceptable cuts in the February I increments in exchange for an 18 percent advance payment. This constitutes a breach of the long-standing COL agreement between labor, management and the government, Meshel said and Histadrut will fight it.

Labor has demanded the interim payment on the grounds that last month’s record inflation wiped out the previous COL increment. By ordering its companies to pay the advance allowance without a reduction in the February payment, Histadrut is bringing pressure to bear on private employers to soften their position.

Meanwhile, Israel’s two major credit card companies announced today that they will start billing card-holders fortnightly instead of monthly as was the practice until now. The companies say they are reluctant to wait a full month for reimbursement because of soaring inflation.

The new arrangement was introduced by “Isracard” which is issued by the Bank Hapoalim and “Visan,” issued by the Bank Leumi and the Israel Discount Bank. The Diners Club, which has a much smaller operation in Israel, said it will continue monthly billings.