Labor union threatens strike over broadcasting authority

The Histadrut Labor Union declares a labor dispute over the deal for the new public broadcaster.

The move paves the way for a general public strike in the next few weeks in protest of the deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to strip the new broadcaster of its news division.

“The decisions on the changes were made with complete disregard for the workers’ representatives,” Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn says.

According to the deal announced Thursday over the new broadcaster, known as Kan, to end a coalition crisis, the new broadcaster will be stripped entirely of its news division. In its stead, a separate broadcast entity will be established to deal with all current affairs offerings, staffed “primarily” by former Israel Broadcasting Authority employees.