Conflict in the Histadrut: Arnon Bar-David dismissed the chair of a union representing tens of thousands of workers
Following prolonged confrontations, Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David announced the dismissal of Alexandra Krushinski, chair of the MAHAR union for academics in social and human sciences, citing management failures and crises of trust. Krushinski condemned the move as a violation of the members' democratic right to choose their representatives.
An unusual and rare dismissal has occurred within the Histadrut. The Chairman of the Histadrut, Arnon Bar-David, announced today (Sunday) his decision to dismiss the Chair of the MAHAR union (academics in social and human sciences), Alexandra Krushinski, from her position. The decision follows continuous confrontations and allegations that Krushinski has been acting contrary to organizational frameworks.
The decision is subject to approval by a Histadrut committee tomorrow. Academics' committees are reportedly considering protests against Bar-David's move.
In a letter to MAHAR union members, Bar-David wrote:
"The decision I made to terminate the tenure of the Chair of the MAHAR union was not easy. I have never dismissed a committee chair from their position, let alone a union chair."
Bar-David claimed the decision followed a long process of examination and consultation, dating back to the previous Histadrut administration. According to him, a series of omissions and serious complaints from union members had accumulated, alongside management failures and deepening crises of trust. He cited the psychologists' petition to establish a separate union as a direct consequence of these issues.
According to the Histadrut chairman, during her nine-year tenure, Krushinski signed only three minor collective agreements, "probably because she was busy with seminars and family vacations in Israel and abroad for most of her time."
Alexandra Krushinski stated in a message to employees that the Histadrut chairman intends to remove her "from a position that you chose me for in order to represent you before the employers and the Histadrut institutions, and to impose an appointed committee to manage the MAHAR union."
"This is a decision to deprive you of the basic democratic right to choose who will represent you and fight for you. Our independence within the Histadrut is in elected leadership, not appointed or dictated leadership," she asserted.
Krushinski demanded that if there are concerns regarding her performance, the question should be brought immediately to the union members, as they are the only ones entitled to decide who represents them.
