Histadrut Chair Arnon Bar-David Faces Allegations of Silencing Critics Amid Internal Conflict
Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labor federation, is accused of attempting to silence and remove Alexandra Krushinsky, head of the Histadrut's academic workers union (Machar), which represents about 54,000 members. In an exclusive interview with News 14, Krushinsky claims Bar-David is suppressing dissent and acting against her due to professional disagreements, including her refusal to hire Ezra Gabay, who is implicated in a corruption scandal known as "Hand Pressing Hand."
Bar-David, currently under scrutiny for alleged corruption, has accused Krushinsky of insubordination and personal interests, recommending her dismissal and the appointment of a temporary committee to manage Machar. A tense meeting between the parties reportedly involved shouting and insults directed at Krushinsky, with Bar-David expressing frustration over her perceived lack of cooperation.
Krushinsky criticizes the Histadrut's leadership for fostering a culture of fear and silence, and for politicizing the labor organization, which she says damages public trust. She also highlights the silence of women's organizations within the Histadrut regarding her treatment. Despite the pressure, Krushinsky vows to fight the dismissal legally and does not rule out running for Histadrut chair in the future.
The Histadrut responded by denying all allegations, calling them false and misleading, and stating that serious investigations are ongoing into Krushinsky's conduct, including financial management issues. They announced plans to file defamation and extortion complaints against her. The Histadrut also noted recent dissatisfaction among psychologists with Machar's leadership, leading to the creation of a new framework to better address mental health professionals' needs.
The conflict exposes deep divisions within the Histadrut leadership amid ongoing corruption probes and raises questions about governance and transparency in Israel's largest labor federation.
