The workers committee at Israel Chemicals Ltd. (TASE: ICL) unit Dead Sea Works again declared immediate labor sanctions today, in response to what it called "unilateral measures by management."
Dead Sea Works management and workers committee have been in negotiations on the consolidation of headquarters staff proposed by Israel Chemicals in an effort to streamline and adjust its activity to conditions in the global potash market.
Dead Sea Works workers committee chairman Armand Lankri said that, despite previous agreements that any change at headquarters would involve the workers' agreement, management has been taking steps without coordination. He also claims that management has concealed information from the workers about the streamlining measures it is undertaking.
As part of the labor sanctions, employees blocked the departure of potash from the plant. Lankri said that if management did not promise to make changes only through negotiations, the labor sanctions would intensify up to and including a strike. "Management had better refrain from continuing its attempts to set fait accompli, because such conduct will result in a serious crisis," he told "Globes" today.
Dead Sea Works said in response, "There is no reason for the present labor sanctions by the workers committee in view of the negotiations with the committee on the streamlining. The streamlining is necessary in view of the serious deterioration in the company's business environment, including the crisis in the fertilizer market, increasing global competition, and the edicts that government has and intends to impose on Israel Chemicals."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 18, 2014
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