AIG Insurance Workers Expand Strike, Disrupting Claims and Service

Employees at the AIG insurance company in Israel escalated their strike on Tuesday, expanding the work stoppage to include the claims department and call centers, in addition to existing service disruptions. This action follows a service center shutdown on Monday as part of ongoing organizational measures.

The strike means AIG customers will not receive service or have their claims processed through the company's call centers on Tuesday. The organizational steps are continuing due to an impasse in negotiations between the company's management and the workers' union, affiliated with the Histadrut labor federation.

Negotiations for a new collective labor agreement have been ongoing for nearly a year without reaching an agreement. The workers intensified their protests in the past week after talks broke down. A key point of contention is the company's plan to implement an AI-powered "voice agent" intended to handle tasks currently performed by human service representatives.

The workers' committee is demanding that the collective agreement address the integration of this technology and its impact on employees. Tomer Malul, chairman of the AIG workers' committee, stated, "We are not looking to defeat anyone, but we demand that management stop stalling and sit down for intensive and real negotiations that will lead to a new agreement. We are ready to return to the table at any time."

AIG responded by stating they are prepared to continue serving customers during the strike and are working to minimize service disruptions. The company acknowledged the value of its employees and stated they have presented fair offers that the workers' committee rejected, leading to the breakdown of negotiations last Thursday. AIG criticized the workers' committee for engaging in "irresponsible work disruptions" that harm employees and urged them to return to the negotiating table.