Israelis strike over cut-back plan

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 31, 2003 22:22 by james larkin

Unions hope labour unrest will mount

Israeli public-sector workers are intensifying an indefinite strike in protest at austerity plans, which the government says is vital to rescue the stagnant economy. Some 100,000 municipal workers joined the strike on Monday, adding to 50,000 ministry employees who walked out on Sunday. The protest will halt refuse collection, close some schools, disrupt welfare activity, and even prevent enforcement of parking regulations. Unions have threatened a general strike over a sweeping government programme of cut-backs in public expenditure, including 10% pay cuts for civil servants. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2902261.stm