Court sets voting policy in Histadrut leadership race
Ballot boxes to stay in workplaces, with poll-watchers at each.
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: APRIL 12, 2017 23:28Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn(photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
Histadrut labor federation chief Avi Nissenkorn and Zionist Union MK Shelly Yacimovich, his challenger in the May 23 race, reached a court-ordered agreement on Wednesday on how the election will be overseen.Yacimovich gave up her demand to remove ballot boxes from workplaces throughout the country, which she made out of concern that union bosses loyal to Nissenkorn would pressure workers to vote for him.Nissenkorn countered that polling stations have always been placed where people work, in order to be as accessible as possible and to prevent lost time from the job.Yacimovich conceded on her demand in return for concessions Nissenkorn made on the oversight of the race.According to the arrangement, representatives of both candidates will be present at each polling station. Representatives will also be present at the 100 places where votes will be counted.The deal was brokered by District Court Judge Shoshana Almagor.“This is an unprecedented achievement,” Yacimovich’s campaign said. “This is one more stage on the way to bringing about a just, democratic and free election for chairman of the Histadrut.”Nissenkorn’s campaign called the judge’s ruling a failure for Yacimovich and a victory for him and expressed satisfaction with the decision to keep ballot boxes in workplaces.“Yacimovich should not have made a ridiculous attempt to prevent workers from exercising their right to vote in their workplaces,” the campaign said.“We are glad the court did not lend a hand to another desperate attempt by Yacimovich to harm the workers, and we are more confident of victory than ever.”
