Histadrut announces protests, information campaign to fight rising cost of living

The Histadrut, Israel’s national labor federation, said Thursday it will be protesting the rising cost of living outside the homes of several high-profile Israeli executives as part of a campaign announced Tuesday by Histadrut chief Arnon Bar-David.

The decision was made during a meeting convened Thursday morning by Bar-David for members of a task force established by the organization to address rising prices.

According to a readout released by the Histadrut, the meeting focused on strategizing for a nationwide campaign aimed at fighting the rising cost of living.

As a first step, Histadrut operatives will organize large protests outside the homes of “senior executives,” the statement read, without providing further details.

The organization, which represents the majority of workers’ unions in Israel, has also launched an information campaign to raise awareness among the public and help consumers save money by choosing cheaper items and avoiding products imported by companies that have recently announced price hikes.

For that purpose, hundreds of Histadrut operatives will be sent to shopping centers across the country and the organization will further spread the message through billboards and the media.

יו"ר ההסתדרות כינס בשעה האחרונה ישיבת היערכות מיוחדת לקראת המשך המאבק להורדת יוקר המחיה בישראל.
ההודעה המלאה: https://t.co/RiqTsVGUoC pic.twitter.com/MYTA69P9te

— ההסתדרות החדשה (@histadruthadash) July 28, 2022

In a passionate speech delivered Tuesday, Bar-David called on Israeli consumers to boycott import giants Diplomat, Kimberly Clark and Schestowitz, which recently announced they were raising the prices of most of their products by 5-15 percent.

“We, the citizens of the State of Israel, are not prisoners of anyone,” Bar-David declared. “A company that abuses the citizens will have to deal with the consequences of its actions through a consumer boycott that we will implement starting today.”

Bar-David argued that these companies were trying to take advantage of the political chaos in Israel to make high profits off of consumers, while their expenses had significantly been reduced due to transport fees lowering in recent months.

During Thursday’s meeting, Eyal Karolizki, who serves as CEO of Together for You, the Histadrut’s consumer club in Israel, said dozens of products imported by Diplomat, Kimberly Clark and Schestowitz had already been removed from the club’s website.

“We’re only just starting,” Bar-David said Thursday. “We are prepared and determined to continue our fight until we see a change and lower costs of living in Israel.”

Rising costs have has already affected some basic commodities, such as regulated food products, housing, electricity and education.