1. ISRAEL'S LABOR UNREST CONTINUES TO SPREAD. THE COUNTRY'S
NURSES WENT ON STRIKE SEPT 15 DESPITE THE CABINET DECISION TWO
WEEKS AGO TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM (SEE REFTEL). THE NURSES
UNION REJECTED A PROPOSAL BY EMPLOYERS THAT ONLY THOSE NURSES
WHO "WORK WITH ACTUAL PATIENTS BY THE SICKBED" WOULD RECEIVE
INCREASED COMPENSATION. THE UNION CHARGED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS
AIMED AT SPLITTING HOSPITAL NURSES FROM GENERAL NURSES.
YESTERDAY'S WALKOUT BY THE NURSES AGGRAVATES A PUBLIC HEALTH
SITUATION ALREADY SOMEWHAT PRECARIOUS BECAUSE OF A WORK-TO-RULE
SLOWDOWN OF HOSPITAL DOCTORS THAT BEGAN SEPT 13. THE SLOWDOWN
MAINLY AFFECTS OUTPATIENT CLINICS. ACCORDING TO THE JERUSALEM
POST, A STORMY MEETING OF 350 DOCTORS IN TEL AVIV RESOLVED THAT ALLL
HOSPITAL DOCTORS WILL SUBMIT THEIR RESIGNATIONS IN A MONTH IF
THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ANSER THEIR DEMANDS FOR HIGHER PAY
AND A LIGHTER WORKLOAD.
2. LEADERS OF THE ENGINEERS UNION HAVE THREATENED TO APPLY
SANCTIONS OR TO STRIKE IF THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT AGREE
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TO THEIR WAGE DEMANDS WITHIN TEN DAYS. WHILE THE UNION
AGREED TO ARBITRATION OVER THEIR CLAIMS, THE FINANCE
MINISTRY ARGUED THAT THE BARKAI COMMITTEE, APPOINTED
JOINTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE HISTADRUT, HAD ALREADY
REJECTED MOST OF THEIR DEMANDS IN A REPORT ISSUED LAST MAY
(SEE TEL AVIV 3397).
3. ON THE OTHER HAND, TAX EMPLOYEES REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE
MINISTRY OF FINANCE YESTERDAY MORNIG, THUS ENDING THEIR SLOWDOWN
OF TWO AND ONE-HALF MONTHS DURING WHICH THE NEARLY 6,000
TAX WORKERS WERE HELD TO THEIR JOB BY AN EMERGENCY WORK ORDER.
AMONG THE BENEFITS THEY WON WAS A READJUSTMENT IN THE GRADE
STRUCTURE OF TAX EMPLOYEES AND THE PROMISE OF PROMOTIONS
FOR ALL IN THE COURSE OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE PROSPECT
OF FURTHER LABOR UNREST IN THIS FIELD IS SEEN IN THE DEMAND BY
NON-SPECIALIZED TREASURY EMPLOYEES THAT ALL NEW BENEFITS
AWARDED TO THE TAX EMPLOYEES BE EXTENDED TO ALL OTHER TREASURY
EMPLOYEES.
4. COMMENT: GROWING LABOR DISCONTENT IS UNDERMINING THE
GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO HOLD THE LINE ON PRICES AND WAGES.
EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE A "PACKAGE DEAL" INVOLVING LABOR,
MANAGEMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN SHELVED BECAUSE
OF HISTADRUT OPPOSITION. ALTHOUGH THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
ENJOYS A LARGE MEASURE OF PUBLIC SYMPATHY IN THEIR DEMANDS
AND THE DEMANDS OF OF THE PHYSICIANS SEEM RELATIVELY MODEST,
THE GOVERNMENT FEARS THAT THE STRIKES ARE A PRELUDE TO A
STRUGGLE OVER WAGES THAT COULD SPREAD TO MANY OTHER SECTORS.
PRIME MINISTER RABIN HAS EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT "THE PUBLIC
WITH THE GOVERNMENT CAN WITHSTAND (THE NURSES PRESSURES)
EVEN IF HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL SERVICES CLOSE DOWN FOR A WEEK
OR TWO OR THREE. THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ADHERE TO IS POLICY
....I HOPE THE PUBLIC WILL SUPPORT IT".
TOON
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