Ofer Eini early leader in labor union elections count

200,000 vote in Histadrut chairman race; final results expected Thursday

Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini emerged as the early leader in the count-up of ballots cast in the labor federation’s leadership race, Tuesday night.

With 10 percent of ballots counted, incumbent Eini leads his challenger, Labor MK Eitan Cabel, with 63% of the votes. Roughly 200,000 people voted in the elections, making up 40 percent of all eligible voters.

Final results are expected to be announced on Thursday

The elections will also determine the delegates at the Histadrut Convention and leadership of the Naamat women’s organization.

The Histadrut labor union, founded in 1920, grew to be one of the most powerful institutions in both Mandate-era Palestine and Israel.

Although the influence of organized labor has waned in recent years, the Histadrut’s huge membership insures its ability to call paralyzing strikes when it deems necessary.

Cabel was hoping that Eini’s lukewarm support of last summer’s social justice protests, and relative reluctance to use the weapon of strikes, would cause voters to shift their allegiance. He campaigned as an energized alternative to the incumbent, who he tried to paint as a lackey of Israel’s business tycoons.

Eini meanwhile pointed to Cabel’s lack of experience. In media interviews Tuesday morning, Eini said he was confident of winning by a landslide.