Defense Ministry Chief Files Formal Complaint Against Workers Union Head
Ministry of Defense Director-General Amir Baram filed a formal complaint against Workers Committee Chairman Sasson Peretz, citing intimidation and aggressive conduct amid a sweeping labor dispute over senior appointments and structural reforms.
Ministry of Defense Director-General Amir Baram filed an unprecedented formal complaint on Wednesday with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David and Civil Service Commissioner Doron Cohen, citing alleged misconduct by Ministry Workers Committee Chairman Sasson Peretz. According to Baram, the latest incident compounds a repeated pattern of behavior in which the union leader adopts a dismissive and threatening demeanor toward both managers and employees.
Core Labor Disputes and Reform Resistance
The friction unfolds against the backdrop of a prolonged labor dispute regarding senior staffing appointments and a sweeping structural reform within the Rehabilitation Department. A professional committee headed by Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef recently recommended transforming the department into an independent national rehabilitation authority, drawing fierce pushback from the union.
Baram stated that the committee chairman raised his voice, intimidated personnel of all ranks, and physically closed in on individuals, creating an atmosphere of coercion and distress. Several employees requested anonymity out of fear of professional retaliation. In a direct memo to staff, Baram emphasized that organizational disagreements do not legitimize creating a climate of fear, including threats of public shaming designed to deter staff from fulfilling their duties.
Workers Committee Response
Responding to the allegations, Peretz accused the ministry leadership of violating understandings that have governed labor relations for five decades, particularly by altering criteria for senior appointments without coordination. Peretz asserted that management is attempting to bypass organized labor and smear the committee.
"The Histadrut fully backs our actions representing roughly 2,300 ministry employees," Peretz stated. He maintained that the complaints stem from a recently circulated union video instructing staff that managers lack the authority to override union directives during an active labor dispute.
