Israel - Cleaners fired for striking (2011)

Reports state that the cleaning contractor hired by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to replace a company whose contract was terminated because it underpaid its workers is also violating the rights of its workers by dismissing former strikers. The workers kept their jobs when the contractors were changed, but the new contractor, Hetz Or, reportedly began firing workers who had complained about the previous contractor’s labour violations – in a few days in November it fired three long-term employees who had been part of the earlier campaign. Other violations include the deduction of union fees from the salary slips, despite the fact that there was no union, and underpayment of pension premiums. A coalition of students from several labour and social advocacy organisations had fought for the cleaners’ rights under the previous company, Dynamica.