In a show of force, Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini will convene 10,000 union members from across the country at the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) headquarters in Tel Aviv this evening. While some workers will arrive independently, the Histadrut has hired 150 buses for the event. Sections of Arlozorov Street, a major traffic artery in the city, may be closed.
The event is being planned to avoid the appearance of a demonstration by only the strong workers committees, and chairpersons of smaller workers committee, such as at fuel company Sonol Israel Ltd. and the women's movement Naamatwill be keynote speakers, alongside the chairman of the Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) workers committee.
The meeting is related to Eini's public declaration of support for the tent protest on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv and a letter from artists calling on him to choose sides because "Eini is part of the system and this struggle is against him, too."
At the same time, activists of the National Left this morning set up a protest tent at the Histadrut headquarters itself. The Histadrut took down the protesters' signs, called in the police to remove them, and is considering filing an official complaint.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 4, 2011
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