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There was a demonstration in Tel Aviv today in support of the postal workers. 2,200 protesters participated in a march which began at the Tel-Aviv Museum and continued to the Government Complex.

Histadrut Chairman Avi Nissenkorn said: "If no solution is found for the postal workers, beginning next week, government workers will take industrial actions"

Government Employees' Union Chairman Ariel Yacobi said: "The postal service management has failed. Instead of quitting, they are telling us that they have a plan, but the plan was built entirely on the backs of the workers". Postal Workers' Committee Chairman said: "Lapid, we also cheered when you won, but this was not what we hoped for. We are the middle class and we want to make a decent living".

Alongside the postal workers, marched hundreds of members of "Dror Israel" and representatives of workers' committees in the civil service, including the Interior Ministry, the Customs, the Welfare Ministry, Social Security, the Housing Ministry, the Environment Ministry, Bezeq, Wolfson Medical Center, the Government Complex workers, and more. The demonstrators protested against the "revolving door" policy through which the state wants to fire approximately 1,500 postal workers and replace them with temporary workers.

"It's not just the postal workers' struggle - it's everyone's struggle," said Histadrut Chairman, Avi Nissenkorn, in his speech during the protest. "We will be the mouthpiece for change and show everyone that workers can't be treated like this. Do not be confused, the address for this struggle is the Israeli government and the Finance Ministry. If the Finance Minister wants to show that he is intending to make social change, he should prove it. I completely support rehabilitation of the postal service and improving the service, but I am against dismissing workers. A change can be made, but we must not agree with cynicism. We must not agree to be seen as transparent - we are not transparent. If an immediate solution is not found for the postal workers, we will expand the struggle to the Civil Service and beginning next week industrial actions will be taken in all offices of the Civil Service."

Chairman of the Government Employees' Union, Ariel Yacobi, agreed with Nissenkorn and strongly criticized the postal service management: "The postal service management has failed. Instead of quitting, they are telling the public that they have a plan. Their plan, which was built entirely on the backs of employees, is not an appropriate plan and they will not defeat us".

Shimon Farjun, the Israel Postal Service Workers' Committee Chairman, said today: "This is a fundamental struggle for everyone. We agreed to very painful measures to save the company and make a decent living, but the Finance Ministry demands 1,500 more workers in order to bring temporary workers to replace them". Farjun addressed the Finance Minister in his speech and said: "Yair Lapid, we also cheered when you won, but this was not what we hoped for. We are the workers, we are the middle class - the working people who do reserve duty and serve the citizens. We want to make a decent living. At the start of the Jewish New Year, we want to sit with our families at the table and celebrate the holiday. This is our fight, and will not compromise on it."

Gershon Gelman, Chairman of the Histadrut's Tel Aviv-Jaffa Regional Labour Council, said during the protest: "They are confused because they are toying with us. The State of Israel wants to outsource [its workers] and is not interested in the dedicated employees here. I am here to inform you that we will not allow it! We will not allow the existence of a ‘revolving door' in the post office. "

At the rally which was held at the entrance to the Government Complex in Tel Aviv, key labor union leaders spoke as well. Vadim Evenstein, Chairman of Income Tax Employees, said in his speech: "The Finance Minister is going to destroy 1,600 families, and he should think twice before doing so. He should remember that collected taxes are in our hands, and in the name of solidarity we will not hesitate to stand alongside the postal workers." Maya Yaniv, Chairperson of Cellcom Workers Committee, and Barak Levy, Chairman of the Pelephone Workers Committee, also spoke during the demonstration. Yaniv said in her speech: "We will not allow the government to send any of you home!" Levy added: "Today we are thousands, tomorrow if necessary, the whole country will be here."

It is noteworthy to mention that during the march, postal workers shut down the postal service in a large number of cities in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bnei Brak, Herzliya, Netanya, Kfar Saba, Petah Tikva, and Raanana. Meanwhile, the postal strike continues to sweep across the country with the exception of the area surrounding Gaza.