The wildcat strike by locomotive drivers at Israel Railways, begun on Tuesday, has expanded, with only six of the 42 drivers expected to turn up for work today. Israel Railways management is threatening to cancel 80 trains today.
Last night, the labor court declined to issue an injunction against the strike, and asked the drivers to return to work. If no agreement is reached in the next few hours, the court will hold another hearing today. The judge can either issue an injunction against the wildcat strike, or order the parties to negotiate, which would allow the labor disruptions to continue.
Most train drivers were able to produce doctors' sick notes, which stated that they felt ill and did not want to jeopardize passengers' lives.
Israel Railways cancelled more than 20 trains on Wednesday. Management said, "The strike was launched without declaration of a labor dispute, at a time of industrial quiet, and after the workers' representatives had told the court that 'there are no organized disruptions by the workers'."
Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz slammed Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini in response to the strike. "After I threatened to close the company and reopen it we signed an agreement to restructure Israel Railways, which included a promise of three years without disruptions or strikes," wrote Katz on his Facebook page. "Now that train drivers are striking under the camouflage of a 'mysterious illness', we do not hear you. You took the money and vanished. What is your word worth?"
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 8, 2013
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