Drama at the First International Bank: Management Called Police on Striking Employees
Negotiations for a collective agreement have reached an impasse following the board of directors' demand to reduce existing employee rights. The Histadrut is warning of potential service disruptions starting today.
The situation at the First International Bank reached a breaking point today, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. At 11:40 AM, representatives from the workers' committee of Malam, the bank's computing subsidiary, attempted to enter a board of directors meeting to demand an explanation as to why the board had retracted previously negotiated terms.
The meeting was held at the bank's headquarters on Rothschild Street in Tel Aviv. According to the workers' committee, the board of directors intervened during the negotiations, demanding a reduction in existing employee benefits and a decrease in work-from-home days.
Malam employs approximately 500 people. The workers' committee, supported by the Histadrut HaMaof, is currently negotiating the renewal of their collective agreement. The committee claims that the board is obstructing negotiations and resorting to police intervention when faced with requests for respectful dialogue. In response to the committee's attempt to address the board, management called the police to remove them from the premises.
The Histadrut issued a statement regarding the incident:
"The Histadrut views the conduct of the bank's board of directors with extreme severity; they refuse to listen to their employees and are alienating themselves from them. If this is how labor relations are handled, what does it imply for the treatment of customers?"
Disruptions to the bank's operations are expected starting today due to sanctions imposed by the computer unit staff.
