Workers' participation and personnel policies in Israel

Israeli enterprises operate in a national context characterised by the existence of a large "labour economy' in addition to the private and public sectors. Although industrial relations are marked both by highly unionised and centralised bargaining and by strong shop-floor committees, the recent economic stabilisation agreements have severely curtailed the range of issues negotiable at the local level and have affected workers' participation at the workplace. Perceptions of various participation practices and institutions are analysed in the light of interviews with key personnel in two private sector and three labour economy companies. Differences between the two types of enterprise are not as great as might be expected. -from Author