Histadrut Secretary General Yisrael Kessar said Sunday he was prepared to endorse the government’s new economic plan approved by the Cabinet last Tuesday.
The formal signing ceremony by the government, labor and management, originally scheduled for last week, was postponed when Histadrut refused to go along with a $30 million cut in subsidies for Kupat Holim, the Histadrut sick fund.
Likud members of the Histadrut Executive continued to oppose the economic package Sunday. But they were overruled by Kessar who had the support of the Labor Party majority in the Executive. Nevertheless, a number of strikes are threatening, directly or indirectly related to the economic reforms. Hospital administrators and service personnel began a walk-out Monday over wage demands. (See separate story.)
Kindergarten and elementary grade teachers said they would work only a half day Tuesday to protest cuts in the education budget.
Meanwhile, the Board of Governors of Hebrew University reviewed an economic recovery plan for the university which is faced with a deficit of some 60 million Shekels. The plan calls for the dismissal of 500 academic, administrative and technical staff members and reductions in purchases and services.
Harvey Kruger, chairman of the Board, told the Governors that even with these cuts, the university will be in urgent need of government help and increased fund-raising abroad.
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