A four-week strike by Israeli Foreign Ministry employees that disrupted passport, visa and diplomatic mail services at Israel’s embassies across the globe — including the one in San Francisco — has come to an end.
The Foreign Ministry workers’ committee announced Jan. 24 the signing of a three-year pact in which employees will receive a salary increase of 4.5 percent, a 3 percent bonus for excellence and a one-time bonus of around $826.
Additional bonuses, based on the difficulties of their assignments and travel expenses, will be given to diplomats serving abroad, many of whom had complained they could not afford to live in their host countries on their salaries.
“The Consulate General of Israel in San Francisco has resumed its routine activities and services. Given the volume that has accumulated, we are doing our best to provide timely services. However, please accept our apologies as we expect a slight delay in the coming weeks,” read a statement from the S.F.-based Consulate General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest.
The statement, issued by Anat Noam, the executive assistant in the San Francisco office, also called the three-year pact “a mutually acceptable agreement.”
The strike, called to bring Foreign Ministry salaries in line with the Defense Ministry and the Mossad, disrupted diplomatic mail, assistance to Israelis abroad and relations with foreign ministries abroad.
Earlier this month, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations skipped a session dedicated to the Middle East and Israel due to the strike, and a delegation of 500 led by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had to be canceled due to a lack of cooperation from Foreign Ministry personnel.
The agreement was reached in time to prevent German Chancellor Angela Merkel and several German ministers from canceling a trip to Israel this week to attend the annual joint Israel-Germany Cabinet session.