LGBTQ defunding risks layoffs and service cuts, labor union warns

Israel's national labor federation has issued a stark warning: the reported decision by the Social Equality Ministry to cease funding for municipal LGBTQ+ coordinators could trigger significant layoffs and severely curtail vital services for vulnerable communities nationwide. The union is demanding immediate dialogue before any cuts are implemented.

Histadrut HaMaof, a key branch representing public-sector administration workers, directed a letter to Social Equality Minister May Golan, the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel chairman, and various municipal leaders. The union insists the government must halt the funding withdrawal and engage in talks with workers' representatives before proceeding.

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The decision by the Ministry for Social Equality to stop funding LGBTQ+ coordinators in local authorities is a grave and unreasonable decision that could lead to the dismissal of dedicated workers and harm populations that need the services and assistance they provide.

In Israel, municipalities and regional councils are crucial for delivering social services, often relying on national government funding for programs targeting specific groups like youth, seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. Municipal LGBTQ+ coordinators play a pivotal role within these local authorities, developing community programs, connecting residents to social services, advising municipalities on LGBTQ+ needs, and offering support to individuals facing distress.

The union cautioned that the funding halt could lead to the dismissal of dedicated municipal workers, infringe upon workers' rights, cancel essential community programs, and weaken services for those who depend on them. The impact, Histadrut HaMaof warned, would be particularly severe in poorer municipalities and towns on Israel's periphery, which possess fewer independent resources to compensate for the loss of state funding. Adv. Gil Bar-Tal, chairman of Histadrut HaMaof, called the decision "grave and unreasonable," highlighting its potential to harm both workers and the public.

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This is a move with deep social consequences, made without sufficient dialogue and with disregard for the heavy price that will be paid by the workers, the local authorities, and the public.