Hundreds of Teva employees blocked the road and entrance to the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem in a union-ordered a strike to protest upcoming layoffs.
Teva announced last week that it will cut close to 25% of its global workforce, which includes 1,700 jobs in Israel where it will also close a manufacturing site.
The strike forced the closure of Ben-Gurion airport, banks, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and government ministries. The unions are angry because they do not believe employees should pay for Teva’s failed investments abroad.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet with Teva CEO Kare Schultz this week to minimize the impact on staff.
Read the Reuters coverage