Elad crisis: municipal workers protest against Idan

Municipality workers in Elad declared war: On Wednesday the committee will hold a demonstration in front of the mayor's office, Yitzchak Idan, since despite repeated promises, the Executive meeting held yesterday (Sunday) dealt with a streamlining program for 2013 and 2014 and included deep cuts in workers' wages, layoffs, privatization of Mikves and more.

The meeting was attended by members of the council, and climbed to high and discordant tones - following the program, which will be transferred for final approval and execution in the coming days.

The main points of the program: all expenses related to wages will be cut down by half, a few employees will be laid off, assistant rabbis in the city would be cut down by half, an employee from the Education Department will be moved to the human resources office - probably at the expense of another employee, representatives' wages will be cut by 10%. The program also includes the privatization of Mikves in the city, including layoffs, Mikve ladies and maintenance personnel.

"We tried to contact the mayor and city director," says Tomer Cohen, chairman of the city workers' committee, "Until now, we came across total disregard."

The Committee also accuses the mayor that, besides cuts, layoffs and employee rights violations, he himself is celebrating. They said, "The city intends to employ the former CEO as director of the Mayor's office at an astronomical sum for tens of thousands of shekels a year. He will also absorb a construction inspector, program examiner, public buildings administrator, a part time bookkeeper and an additional inspector in the city's improvement department. "

In addition they also criticize the section called "miscellaneous expenses to the CEO chamber" which amounted to 380 000 shekels for this period of the program. As well as support of 90,000 shekels to a body called "business encouragement Foundation".

"At the time that the municipality harms and cuts down on employee wages," says Cohen, "it works to absorb new and unnecessary employees, budgets related entities, and all that while throwing sand in the eyes of employees."

"We've heard enough promises. Municipality workers in Elad are not pawn in the hands of any element. We can not be sold at an end of season sale, to the highest bidder. All authority employees: clerks, practitioners, Mikve workers, social workers, rabbis, and helpers at kindergartens are all called to a meeting of protest ".

Behadrey Haredim also learned that a request was made to the Histadrut (workers' union) to accelerate the process of a declared labor dispute.

The municipality's response was not available.

At the same time, another violent incident occurred in the city, including damage to the car of a member of the Council Yisrael Porush.

The beginning of the event was two weeks ago when a fire occurred in an institution called 'Toras Emes' which is attended by about one hundred students.

Since the fire the Talmud Torah - belonging to institutions of Shtefenesht - has been cut off from electricity. Despite the fact that another institution which was also cut off was connected again yesterday.

Consequently, Yisrael Porush's car was covered with ads in which it said: "This vehicle is blocked until there will be electricity for the hundred children of
Talmud Torah Toras Emes on 5 Rashi Street".

Porush himself denies any connection to responsibility in the matter, and does not understand why he was chosen as victim.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!