Bank CEO Confronted by Protesting Employees at Holiday Event

Employees of Matof, the IT subsidiary of the International Bank, staged an unusual protest during a Rosh Hashanah holiday gathering attended by the bank's CEO, Eli Cohen. Instead of a festive atmosphere, Cohen was met with a large banner reading, "Management Proudly Presents: A Good Year of Salary Deductions for Work Performed." The employees, who have been in a prolonged labor dispute with management, held signs and chanted protests against salary deductions, demanding the return of thousands of shekels they claim were unfairly withheld, even for hours they actually worked.

The protest is a continuation of a months-long conflict over the renewal of the collective agreement for approximately 500 Matof employees. The workers' committee, supported by the Histadrut HaOvdim HaMeyuchedet (National Labor Federation), alleges that management has reneged on previous agreements and seeks to diminish existing rights, including reducing remote work days. The dispute escalated on July 28 when negotiations collapsed, leading to intermittent disruptions of the bank's computer services. Attempts by worker representatives to address the bank's board were denied.

The salary deductions have become a new point of contention, with employees reporting deductions amounting to thousands of shekels, some for work already completed. The conflict has implications for bank customers, as Matof provides essential IT services. Disruptions, like those experienced in late July, can impact the bank's daily operations.

During the holiday gathering, employees used the opportunity to remind the CEO that the previous year's dispute remains unresolved. In response, the International Bank stated, "The bank's management wishes a good and fruitful year to the dear bank employees and the workers' representatives. The merger process is underway and will be managed professionally, maturely, and objectively. Those who seek to ridicule the employees' future will have to do so alone and bear the consequences."