The Peretz-Netanyahu show

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Woman Crucified # 13 by Silvia Rosenberg, mixed media on recycled paper, 20x30 cm.

t’s no secret that Peretz – like Netanyahu – regards the solidarity strike with the workers from the weakest and poorest of the local authorities (and it apparently was no accident that the government spokesmen tried to make the most of the fact that most of the troubled local authorities are small Arab towns and villages) as a test of his national leadership. So far, the polls showed that the public sided with him and the strikers against Netanyayu, who is being blamed for the failure to pay the workers (even though the repsonsiblity for paying them lies with the mayors, not the government) and being blamed for the strike. There is no signed agreement from last night’s ruling, and as of noon there were disputes between finance ministry officials and union bosses who were interviewed this morning.

But if Peretz ignores the Labor Court, he would be crossing into unknown territory and could sour the broad support he won over the last 48 hours. With each passing hour since 8 A.M., Peretz was undoubtedly under increasing pressure from mayors and workers to keep up the strike until the treasury’s check is in the bank, not on the way. The estimated cost of the unpaid wages to the treasury is about NIS 250 million. Meanwhile, each 24 hours of strike costs the economy around one billion shekel. Meanwhile, some 60 ships are waiting off shore to unload goods and pick up goods.

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