Activist leadership in the new Israeli Labour unions — The Histadrut. Bringing about privatisation, downsizing, and goal transformation: An Israeli case study

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article analyses the nature of leadership in the Israeli labour unions (the Histadrut) from a theoretical perspective encompassing industrial relations and organisational change. The research questions were: How did union leaders (Ramon and Peretz) effect privatisation, downsizing, and goal transformation in the Histadrut? Which leadership style characterised the Israeli labour unions? The research was conducted using qualitative methods for a case study approach, interviewing 25 Histadrut members, and analysing organisational documents. The old Histadrut was founded as a welfare agency. As a socialist entity, the Histadrut was linked politically and economically to the Labor party, which helped to fund it while in government. In 1994, a new leader, Haim Ramon, was elected. He transformed the Histadrut into a confederation of autonomous labour unions. The Histadrut underwent downsizing and focused on trade union goals. A year later, Ramon resigned, to be replaced by Amir Peretz. He wanted to restore the labour unions’ power and broaden the goal system. This article explains Ramon’s and Peretz’s leadership styles, and how they brought about privatisation, downsizing, and transformation of union goals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-177
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Organisational Transformation and Social Change
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015.

Keywords

  • Downsizing
  • Goal transformation
  • Privatisation
  • Union leadership

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous)
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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