“None of the Orthodox butchers were unionized before,” Assaf Bondy, the south region coordinator for the Koach La Ovdim (Power to the Workers) trade union federation, told the Militant by phone Oct. 20. “The workers held a 10-day strike in October 2013. It was very rough because the workers occupied the factory and the owners used 100 guards to kick them out.”

“The labor court ruled that the workers have the right to strike,” Bondy said. “At first we were surprised the butchers wanted to join a nonorthodox union, but they have a very strong belief in collective action and will have their own union local.” Koach La Ovdim organizes about 25,000 workers, including waiters, chemical workers, nurses and child care workers.

“There are 300 to 400 workers at the plant who are direct employees and not unionized yet,” said Bondy. “Ninety-nine percent of them are Bedouin. We have a big incentive to unionize them, to improve their working conditions.”