After First International Bank Canceled Work-from-Home at Mataf, Employees Threaten Strike
The conflict between First International Bank management and its subsidiary technology company, Mataf, is escalating over a dispute regarding work-from-home policies. The Histadrut union has warned of a potential general strike.
The conflict between the management of the First International Bank and the employees of its subsidiary technology company, Mataf, is escalating against the backdrop of a dispute over work-from-home policy. The workers' committee and the Histadrut are threatening to expand organizational measures and even reach a general strike if the bank's management does not change its policy.
In a letter sent to the bank's management on August 28, the Maof Histadrut claims that the First International management unilaterally canceled the option to work from home without negotiating the issue. According to the Histadrut, this is part of a broader organizational change whose implications for employees were not agreed upon with their representatives.
The employees' main demand is to maintain the status quo at least during the negotiations. The Histadrut is effectively demanding that the bank allow employees to continue working from home at least one day a week and not make unilateral changes to the work format.
The employees have already taken organizational measures, and the Histadrut warns that if the bank's management continues with the current policy, it will be considered by them as an "invitation" to expand the struggle. The Histadrut's letter states that the measures may expand to the point of a general strike. The Histadrut also criticizes the management's conduct toward the employees and their representatives, claiming that the steps taken against the employees cross red lines in terms of labor relations.
Mataf employees have been conducting a struggle in recent months against the backdrop of what they see as a deterioration in their employment conditions. Mataf management has clarified that, from its perspective, the sanctions being taken by the employees are illegal, and that anyone who participates in them will be considered a part-time employee, and the management is entitled not to agree to employment in this format. At the same time, the First International management is seeking to merge Mataf into the bank as part of a structural change intended to reduce costs.
