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The founding convention of the Histadrut - the General Federation of Labor in Israel - was held in Haifa in 1920. By 1970, after 50 years, the organization numbered 1,100,000 members, interconnected in various ways. The Histadrut's fiftieth year marked the end of a fruitful and satisfying period, as the Histadrut prepared for the challenge set by the demands of the future.
The Histadrut was founded by working people, who wished to protect their rights and assure themselves an honorable living. At the same time, the organization has always been concerned with the general good, and has contributed greatly to national goals in the fields of defense, economics, and health.
The Histadrut is rightly regarded as unique among labor unions because of its particular structure and aims. While unions elsewhere deal mainly with wages, the Histadrut provides for the working man's general welfare through trade unions, workers' cooperatives, social services, educational and cultural projects, and medical facilities. This combination is peculiar to Israel, and makes an original contribution to Israeli life.
The Histadrut is a free, voluntary organization with membership open to all workers regardless of race, creed, sex, or professional status - wage-earners and self-earners alike. Wage earners of the Histadrut are affiliated to trade unions, women to the Working Women's Council; all members are associated in one of the local Labor Councils, and they, as well as their families, are served by the Histadrut Sick Fund.
Every four years, the members elect delegates to the Histadrut Convention, which elects a Council, which in turn elects the Executive Committee. This Committee chooses its Central Committee.
The Trade Union Department coordinates all the national trade and industrial unions, and handles matters of trade union policy, wages, cost of living, and labor relations.
The Economic Enterprises of the Histadrut are numerous. The cooperative sector is an extensive network with operations in the fields of consumer goods, transport, and manufacturing, as well as in various service industries. Thousands of people are organized in kibbutzim and moshavim, and account for over half of Israel's agricultural production.
A highly developed Mutual Aid system operates in a number of areas. First in importance are the medical services, including over 1,000 out-patient clinics, numerous hospitals and rest homes. In addition, the organization operates a number of pension and old-age funds for its members.
The Cultural and Educational Activities of the Histadrut are ramified. Among them is a school for training union leaders; study circles, and on-the-job training courses; educational and research institutes; guided tours and mobile exhibits; newsreels and documentary films; the publication of books and pamphlets; general education and Hebrew lessons; adult education; the Labor Studies Department at Tel Aviv University; choral, instrumental and dance ensembles; drama and art instruction; and a correspondence school.
Vocational Training is provided by the "Amal" Vocational Schools.
The Consumer Authority aims to protect the consumer and encourage cooperative buying.
Over 100,000 working youth below the draft age of 18 belong to the Histadrut's Learning and Working Youth Organization. The Office of International Relations maintains contact with Labor Organizations throughout the world.
