Hadassah Labor Dispute Put on Hold

Labor-management peace has come to Hadassah Medical Center, at least for the time being, as layoffs of 200 administrative and maintenance employees were suspended after talks with the Histadrut, Globes reported.

The agreement was announced after the employees initiated work sanctions, which forced Hadassah’s hospitals at Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus to operate on emergency schedules. With layoffs withdrawn, sanctions were also stopped.

Incensed over CEO Avigdor Kaplan’s decision to fire 200 employees without negotiations, employees blocked access roads, and the Ministry of Health called in the police.

The Histadrut accuses Hadassah Medical Center of trying to make its employees bear the cost of its own managerial failures. HMC has formulated a plan to eliminate its deficit of NIS 1.3 billion through layoffs and pay cuts, increasing income from private medicine, and focusing on profitable medical procedures, including obstetrics and certain types of operations. The administration and maintenance workers apparently agreed to the layoffs in return for increased severance or early pensions, Globes said.

Hadassah’s management is also holding talks with the National Association of Nurses in Israel and Israel Medical Association regarding other cutbacks.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the August 30th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.