Yes, the new season is about to begin.

No, silly, I am not talking about the NFL. Nope, in Israel there is a different type of Fall tradition (timed to coincide with the reopening of schools and count down to the chagim):

I am talking about the official opening of strike season. Unions May Shut Down Country Over Budget:

National Histadrut labor union leader Ofir Eini has threatened to shut down the country with a strike if the Cabinet approves the proposed 2009 budget at its next meeting on Sunday. The Finance Ministry proposal includes widespread cuts in spending on defense and social service programs.

“I intend to warn the Cabinet ministers on the danger inherent in approving the budget,” he said. “I hope the ministers will not raise their hands in favor of the proposal because it will cause a layoff of workers and instability in the economy.”

A Histadrut strike could affect the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as the Interior, Transportation, Education, Foreign, Welfare, Defense and Health Ministries, the Tax Authority, the Israel Land Administration and Bank of Israel offices. The effects also would be felt at government hospitals, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, the National Insurance Institute, the Postal Authority, the Electric Company and Ben-Gurion Airport, among other government institutions.

The part that cracks me up is that Eini is threatening to strike because if the budget goes through, it will cause “instability in the economy”. Am I the only one who sees the inherent contradiction in bringing all major services in the country to a screeching halt in order to prevent instability to the economy?

Oy Vey. Socialism at its finest.