The Walla portal reports that concerns about empty supermarket shelves are growing: 120 state veterinarians have announced their intention to start a general strike. This move could lead to an immediate halt in the operations of meat processing plants and the import of meat, eggs, and fish through sea and air ports.
Without the veterinary supervision required by law, supplies of animal products may cease within a few days.
The cause of the crisis is a protracted labor dispute between veterinarians and the Ministry of Finance. The conflict has been ongoing for more than a year and a half. In the Histadrut of public servants, it is stated that negotiations have reached a deadlock, as the state is evading the transfer of the draft wage agreement, despite claims that substantial agreements have been reached between the parties.
According to the union's version, the budgetary basis of the agreement was agreed upon in 2014, and in September 2025, the parties reached full agreement on the content of the agreement. However, since then and up to today, the official draft has not been transferred, despite repeated requests, including in December 2025.
Veterinarians claim that the last wage agreement in the sector was signed in August 2015, and since then they have been working without updated regulations, facing deteriorating conditions achieved during negotiations, including a reduction in the workweek.
This is happening alongside the implementation of structural reforms in their work in the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, as well as against the backdrop of a new collective agreement signed for doctors in the healthcare system in 2024.
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