Printer-friendly VersionOccupational Health and Safety
The Workers Advice Center demands an urgent debate on safety at work
At the end of April 2012, the Workers Advice Center (WAC-Maan) contacted Knesset Member Haim Katz, chairperson of the Knesset Committee on Labor and Welfare, requesting an urgent debate on the increase in the number of fatal work accidents. The urgent request was also a result of the fatal accident which occurred on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl on April 17 and was a direct result of a series of serious flaws in licensing, supervision, planning and execution. 
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May Day
International Workers’ Day 2012
The people demand unionized workers!
In the upcoming demonstrations of the united left, the Independent Union WAC Maan and the Daam workers’ party, call for peace, equality and social justice, and demonstrates in solidarity with the popular Arab uprisings, particularly the heroic revolt of the Syrian people.
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Histadrut chief Eini koshers rail privatization
Transportation minister, Israel Katz, announced plans at the beginning of March to start work on dismantling Israel Railways. In response, trade union representatives declared that under no circumstances would the union accept unilateral changes. Right now, all eyes are on an impending confrontation between union workers and the minister, and the outcome can only be guessed at. continue
Tel Aviv, International Women’s Day 2012
Jewish and Arab women march for peace, equality and social justice
One after another, in the spirit of the social activists of the beginning of the last century, they stepped up onto the wooden crate on the side of Tel Aviv’s Rothschild Boulevard and cried out for a better future – each from the perspective of her own struggle. Among those listening were women agricultural workers organized with the Workers Advice Center (WAC), activists from Beit Ha’am (“the people’s house”), members of the union Koach Laovdim, representatives of the political party Meretz, and Tel Aviv residents... continue
16.2.12
New legal precedent for Israeli contractor workers:
National Labor Court mandates Antiquities Authority to hire excavation workers as regular employees
press release
The last few days have seen a successful end to a long legal battle over demands to instate excavation workers as regular employees of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). About three years ago, dozens working for the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) were summoned by a representative of Brik, the personnel firm through which they were employed. He told them that all who had worked for more than nine months would not be hired in the future. None received a letter of dismissal. continue
16.2.12
Representatives of the social protest movement in Baqa al-Gharbiyeh
“Breaking the wall that separates us from the Arabs”
The struggle to empower Arab women and assist them in obtaining agricultural work did not start last summer, and was not a result of the social protest. This struggle started six years ago, with a special project to open jobs in agriculture for Arab women, with all peripheral benefits and according to the law. Getting wage slips which outline reductions from wages and peripheral benefits may seem to be the absolute minimum, but for many Arab women who are desperate to work this is an achievement. Especially when most farmers prefer to employ imported laborers under even poorer terms. continue
12.2.12
Truck Drivers compensated with 121,000 shekels after lawsuits
The legal division of WAC-MAAN has made a series of achievements in lawsuits during the past few months defending truck drivers in the northern area. Most successes resulted from a compromise with the employers, reached after filing lawsuits.
Anton Brothers company paid NIS 42,911 (ca. $11,6000) to H.D., a driver. Otzma paid NIS 36,631 to another driver. R.A. Ashkenazi compensated the worker S.A. with the amount of NIS 27,000. And Max Keren paid A.W. a sum of NIS 5,271 along with 7,240 for the worker B.D. Hovalot Hasharon paid A.A. a sum of NIS 2625.
16.1.12
The Salit workers' struggle – achievements and limitations
Following a prolonged struggle and a three-month-long strike during the last summer the Salit quarry was declared bankrupt and placed in the head of the receivers. Notwithstanding the Israeli institutional indifference to the fate of the Palestinian workers, the Salit employees and the Workers Advice Center (WAC-MAAN) succeeded in demonstrating the power of cross-border solidarity. There are some important lessons embedded in this historical and ongoing struggle. continue
27.12.11
"Hundreds of Israeli women want to work in agriculture"
Complaints by Israeli farmers that there are not enough agricultural workers in the market place were more vocal in the past week. However, these claims are undermined by figures presented by WAC, according to which “hundreds of Israeli women would like to work in agriculture, but farmers prefer Thai workers, who are cheaper.” continue
20.12.11
Keep On Truckin'
Truck drivers must put up with long hours on the road just to make a decent wage. Recent attempts to unionize, though, have been freighted with problems. 
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17.12.11
Death of a Builder
And once again the darkness is so deep, no light can drive it back. And the abyss is so dark, so mute and echoing, it swallows her up and wraps her in eternal silence. This is Salima, 62 years old, from Um al-Fahm. That night, five years ago, when cars converged on her humble home and the grandchildren alighted, she knew that Ahmed, one of her eight children, was no more. Five days of intensive care had stopped time in its tracks. Hope had not survived. continue
17.12.11
Exploitation of migrant labor, unemployment in Arab villages… Who cares?
The Nov. 28 session of the Knesset Committee on Foreign Workers was intended to debate putting an end to the import of migrant labor for construction and agriculture, and encouraging Israeli workers in these sectors. But instead, we were witness once again to a display of impotency in the face of the powerful farmers' lobby. The debate exposed the well-known fact that there is nobody in the political establishment who is able or willing to do what must clearly be done: stopping the import of migrant laborers and opening up jobs to local workers especially Arab women. continue
