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Activist Leadership in the New Israeli Labour Unions — The Histadrut. Bringing about Privatisation, Downsizing, and Goal Transformation: An Israeli Case Study

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.