Sasatech Factory Near Lebanon Border Secures First Collective Labor Agreement

Sasatech, a cleaning and maintenance products factory located in the Dalton Industrial Zone near the Lebanese border, has finalized its first-ever collective labor agreement. The deal, reached after extensive negotiations, covers approximately 100 workers and will remain in effect until 2028. It includes significant benefits such as cumulative wage increases of nearly 10% over the next three years, a supplementary fund, welfare budgets, comprehensive medical insurance for employees and their families, and various grants and gift vouchers for family occasions.

As a recognition of their dedication during wartime, the company's management awarded a "war bonus" of hundreds of thousands of shekels, amounting to over 5,000 shekels per worker. Additionally, a sum of 350,000 shekels, previously allocated to the General Histadrut labor union by court order during the initial unionization process, will be fully distributed to the factory workers as an extra bonus. The agreement also stipulates that workers will receive a monthly basket of company products valued at hundreds of shekels, alongside other improved conditions that solidify their rights for the first time under a collective agreement.

Yona Bartok, head of the Upper Galilee region for the Histadrut, described the negotiations as initially challenging but evolving into a relationship of trust and cooperation. Aviv Azuz, the professional union secretary for the region, highlighted the workers' perseverance through security challenges, including sirens, to finalize the agreement, thanking the company owners and management for their cooperation.

Uri Betan, head of the workers' committee, expressed pride in representing the Sasatech workforce, emphasizing the factory's family-like atmosphere and thanking the Histadrut and management for their attentiveness to worker needs. The negotiations involved representatives from the Histadrut, including legal and economic policy departments, and from Sasatech, including the owner, general manager, legal counsel, factory manager, and HR director.