- Title: JERUSALEM: STRIKES AGAINST AUSTERITY BUDGET AND PRIVATISATION PLANS CONTINUE
- Date: 30th December 1996
- Summary: JERUSALEM (DECEMBER 30, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/SV TRAIN/ EXT CLOSED RAILWAY STATION (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. LV EXT POST OFFICE/ SV MAN TRIES TO OPEN DOOR (2 SHOTS) 0.26 3. SV WOMAN STANDS IN FRONT OF 'HAPOALIM' BANK/ MAN TRIES TO OPEN DOOR (2 SHOTS) 0.36 4. SV MAN ARRIVES AND FINDS BANK SHUT 0.44 5. SV UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING HE HEARD ABOUT THE STRIKE LAST NIGHT BUT HE DIDN'T THINK ITS GOING TO BE A 'REAL STRIKE' (ENGLISH) 0.52 6. SCU ANOTHER UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING HE THINKS PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO STRIKE AND THIS STRIKE IS JUSTIFIED (ENGLISH) 1.03 7. LV EXTERIOR SHOT OF MOUNT SCOPUS HOSPITAL 1.08 8. GV EMPTY CORRIDOR 1.13 9. SLV UNIDENTIFIED OLD MAN IN HOSPITAL AT RECEPTION DESK BEING TOLD HE CAN'T SEE A DOCTOR TODAY 1.18 10. LV EXT SHUT MEDICAL CENTRE/ PEOPLE LEAVING 1.23 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 14th January 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JERUSALEM
- City:
- Country: Israel
- Reuters ID: LVA8C21W0JNY404TAMQYV2O84LLX
- Story Text: INTRO: Striking workers hit large sectors of Israel's economy on Monday (December 30) in protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's austerity budget and privatisation plans.
The fourth day of strikes on Monday (December 30) involved tens of thousands of workers and covered most of Israel's public sector, costing the economy millions of dollars, officials said.
Banks, government offices and the Tel Aviv stock exchange were closed, public hospitals were giving only emergency treatment and phone, transportation and postal services were also affected.
Seaports were closed for a fourth day running and radio and television bradcasts were disrupted.
Last Thursday the powerful Histadrut Labour Federation launched a series of gradually widening strikes that were due to culminate in a general strike on Tuesday (December 31), the last day of the year when parliament was due to vote on next year's budget.
The 1997 government proposal calls for seven billion shekels (2.15 United States (U.S.) dollars) in spending cuts, new taxes and other revenue-raising measures that Netanyahu said were needed to rein in soaring deficits. The prime minister has also promised to privatise dozens of government-owned companies.
Union leaders say the measures will lead to an erosion in workers' salaries and rights.
Thousands of workers walked off their jobs on Sunday and others ignored court orders to show up for work after police arrested trade union leader Shlomo Shani for failing to appear before a labour court in connection with the strike.
Union leaders said Monday's strike would last at least until 4 p.m. (1400 GMT).
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