The Histadrut authorized chairman MK Amir Perez to “take every economic measure against Bank Hapoalim.”
Histadrut chairman MK Amir Perez announced today that he would close his personal account at Bank Hapoalim. He spoke at a meeting of the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) steering committee. Histadrut sources said Perez’s announcement was a signal for workers committees to do likewise. The Histadrut estimates these accounts total several billion shekels. The Histadrut also decided to hold demonstrations at the homes of Bank Hapoalim CEO Eli Yones, chairman Shlomo Nehama and controlling shareholder Shari Arison over the weekend.
The Histadrut authorized Perez and Histadrut treasurer Israel Efrat to “take every economic measure against Bank Hapoalim.” The Histadrut currently has most of its accounts at the bank, which is also the main source of the Histadrut’s credit. It is believed that the Histadrut's debts to Bank Hapoalim considerably exceed the assets it holds at the bank.
Perez also announced that the struggle against Bank Hapoalim would be intensified next week, and the national workers committee would convene next week to decide on the continuance of the campaign. "We expect that the bank’s management will come to its senses; it is out of the question for Bank Hapoalim to be making profits and firing workers.”
The banks’ workers committees will hold a one-hour protest meeting tomorrow, following Bank Hapoalim’s laying off 900 employees.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on January 7, 2003