Hadassah Hospital Workers Threaten Strike If Not Paid Full Salary

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By JTA February 9, 2014

Doctors at Hadassah Medical Center said they would start a full strike if they do not receive the salary owed to them.

Staff members on Sunday threatened to go on a full strike the following day unless they receive the remaining half of their unpaid salaries by midnight, the Times of Israel reported.

They received only half their January salaries due to the center’s $367 million deficit.

The doctors at Hadassah’s two campuses have been on partial strike, offering only urgent treatment on a Sabbath and holiday schedule for nearly a week.

Doctors in all of Israel’s hospitals went on a two-hour strike on Sunday morning in solidarity with the Hadassah staff.

Israel’s Health Minister Yael German announced a financial recovery package offered to the hospital, including a government loan of more than $14 million to be matched by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Haaretz reported.

The announcement came after the hospital on Friday filed for court protection against its creditors, including employees filing to receive back salaries, after two Israeli banks cut off their lines of credit, according to reports.

The money from the government and Hadassah would allow the hospital to continue operating, but not to pay the back salaries.

Haaretz reported that the court trustee in the case will not take over management of the hospital.

Hadassah Medical Center is one of the largest hospitals in Israel and the only one specializing in head trauma.

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