Following an announcement by Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman MK Eli Alaluf to postpone safety reforms in the construction industry, Histadrut labor federation leader Avi Nissankoren on Monday warned he would launch a general strike this coming Sunday, January 6.
Nissankoren issued his threat after a heated debate in the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee on safety conditions in the construction and other industries.
Alaluf dispersed the meeting after Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services Ministry officials were unable to provide sufficient responses to questions put forth by contractor representatives over unresolved clauses pertaining to the adoption of European construction standards.
Histadrut officials who took part in the meeting pressed Alaluf to raise the new safety standards for approval, but Alaluf denied the request and decided instead to cancel the meeting.
Consequently, as stated, Nissankoren threatened to launch a countrywide strike on Sunday.
Thirty-seven workers have died on building sites across Israel since the beginning of 2018, and 200 others have been seriously injured.
In November, too, the Histadrut threatened to shut down the international airport, banks, stock exchange and all government offices in protest over what it called the state's inaction over construction site deaths.
"We will not compromise when it comes to human lives," Nissankoren said at the time.
