The Finance Ministry and Histadrut Labor Federation signed an agreement Wednesday ending Israel's Foreign Ministry strike a week and a half after it began.
The agreement was based on four "pillars." The first was creating a new model for sending Israel's emissaries abroad, which would give the foreign ministry greater management control. The second was strengthening pension plans around the family unit, as befitting the unique lifestyle of the foreign service.
The third pillar was to improve service conditions abroad, and providing financial assistance for going abroad, especially to hardship countries. Finally, they agreed to shorten the time required to advance from junior status.
"After long negotiations we have arrived at an agreement that will strengthen the foreign service and aid the country's emissaries in the world work at length in the Israeli diplomatic service," said Kobi Amsalem, Director of the Wages Department at the Finance Ministry.
Avi Nissenkoren, the head of the Histadrut trade division and presumptive next chairman, praised the agreement, saying it "strengthens the welfare of Israel's emissaries who do their job day and night for the sake of their country, far from home." The foreign ministry embarked on the strike the previous Sunday, shuttering Israeli embassies around the world after two years in the labor dispute, seven months of mediation efforts and three weeks of work sanctions.
The workers said that their salaries, which ranged from NIS 6,000 to NIS 13,000 a month for lower-level employees and as high as 10,000 euros a month for ambassadors in places like Germany, were not sufficient. The big ticket salaries, they noted, were subject to high taxes and used to fund secure vehicles and entertaining guests.