Negotiating teams headed by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini overnight Monday reached an agreement regarding a 3.5 percent hike in worker salaries for 2009, 2010 and 2011. This means that a general workers strike that was expected to take place has now been cancelled.Reports from the meeting, which began at 6:00 p.m on Monday, stated that the talks were being conducted in a “positive atmosphere.” RELATED:Steinitz, Eini to meet again in bid to avert strikeMeeting over public sector wages ends with no resultsAs part of the agreement public workers will receive an increase in salary of 6.25 percent over the space of three and a half years, from Januray 2009 to June 2011. The increases will be paid in three separate stages.Each public worker that the agreement affects will receive a one off payment of NIS 2000, no matter what their salary. This payment will be received in November 2010.The core of the dispute was the Histadrut’s demand for a 3.5 percent hike in worker salaries for 2009, 2010 and 2011, a total of 10.5%. The Finance Ministry had only agreed to a one-time raise of 1.5%.The strike, if it were to go ahead, would have affected all government agencies and local authorities, as well as Ben-Gurion Airport and other airports, and the sea ports. The courts, post offices, National Insurance Institute and utility offices would remain closed as well.
