The train strike, which began yesterday, has ended. Train services were due to resume at 8.00 pm Monday night but disruptions were still expected, and workers committee chairperson Gila Edri has asked the public to "wait patiently," until services return to normal.
Even though the wildcat strike started yesterday, after railway workers defied a court order not to disrupt services, Edri did not turn up to the Tel Aviv District Labor Court until this afternoon.
The court hearing had been scheduled to start at 11.00 am. When Edri had not appeared by 1.00 pm, Judge Efrat Lasker issued a personal order compelling Edri and other workers committee representatives to attend the court, and they arrived at 1.30 pm. Court proceedings did not begin until 4.00 pm.
When Lasker asked Edri why she had not come to court in the morning she responded, "I didn't think I needed to come. In the end I traveled from the north by bus - I don't have wings."
She told "Globes" that she had been at home in Haifa and had had to travel by bus along Road 6 to Tel Aviv.
The workers committee agreed to respect the law and return to work as ordered by the court.
There were reports on “IDF Radio" (Galei Zahal) that railway employees had used force to block strikebreakers from returning to work earlier in the day.
Workers committee leaders were handed down stiff fines for contempt of court. Sources have also informed "Globes" that Israel Railways management is considering suing the heads of the workers committee for the financial damage caused.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 14, 2012
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