The Histadrut is part of the problem

1. The last thing the tent city protesters need right now is Histadrut Labor Federation Chairman Ofer Eini. Ten days after the protest began, the representative of the organization that generally inspires an allergic reaction from the public suddenly remembers that he is the great protector of the middle class. The organization that has for many years been the symbol of corruption in the country suddenly recognized that the protest has no official spokesperson, and has tried to fill that void for the sake of political gain.

Where was Mr. Eini during the social workers' strike? Why didn't he call a nationwide strike to protest doctors' low wages and the unbearable conditions of interns and residents? What has he done to prevent the closure of factories across Israel-

2. Yes, this is the same Histadrut that in the 1960s, '70s and '80s stole our parents' and grandparents' membership dues and health service funds to finance various labor councils and groups - who have enjoyed generous budgets.

This is the same Histadrut that for many years functioned as the military wing of the Labor party, making sure to stir up strife during the years that the Likud was in power. This is the same Histadrut in which former Histadrut chairman Amir Peretz prided himself on being the protector of the weak and the downtrodden, yet when he rose to greatness he preferred to look through closed binoculars instead of implementing the welfare policy he preached for years.

3. Eini and his friends from the big councils are part of the larger problem, because of which the protest is growing each day. Eini himself was enraged last week over the sharp rise in the price of gasoline in Israel, but he didn't utter a peep over the 20 percent rise in the cost of electricity. Why not?

For one thing, it's because we need to fund the huge salaries of senior Electric Corporation employees, and the free electricity provided to company workers, which is a symbol of corruption (it's difficult to forget the memorable scene from the television program "Zehu Zeh" in 1988, in which the viewer is taken into the home of the Electric Corporation chairman, where he sees six air conditioners, three ovens, and three refrigerators running simultaneously).

Don't forget the port workers, who only three months ago launched a strike because the port's management took steak off the lunch menu - and not because of the cholesterol.

4. And what does Ofer Eini suggest as a solution to the current crisis? That the government build 20,000 apartments in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan and rent them to young people. On the other hand, he complains about taxation, mainly relating to gasoline. And how exactly is the government supposed to pay for those apartments for young people, who need to live close to the bars and clubs in Tel Aviv?

P.S. Who exactly is Eini threatening by calling for a strike on August 1? Maybe he's threatening the middle class, which for the past two months has been looking forward to its all-inclusive vacations in Greece and Turkey?

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