The El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) pilots union stated today, "We aren't on strike. The company has grounded 23 pilots over age 65, and the result is a severe shortage of pilots. Even without the age problem, El Al has a permanent shortage of pilots, and management, which is unable to man flights, is finding it convenient to report that the pilots are striking in order to avoid claims from their customers."
El Al management yesterday asked the Labor Court to order the workers' representatives at the company to halt illegal sanctions and work disruptions by the company's pilots. Management stated, "Unfortunately, El Al pilots have begun an illegal wildcat strike in order to pressure company management to accept all their demands."
Management further asserted that the unavailability of senior air staff and their refusal to answer company requests to conduct flights had forced the company to postpone three flights yesterday: flight 075 to Hong Kong, flight 027 to Newark, and flight 001 to New York, which are now scheduled for today.
"El Al is sending messages, making telephone calls, and even sending taxis with telegrams in order to locate available pilots for flights, but without success. The lack of response appears to be organized illegal sanctions, without a labor dispute being declared, as required by law," El Al told the Labor Court.
El Al also told the Court that pilots' representatives had recently stated to the workers' committee that the company would suffer economic damage if it did not fulfill their demands concerning the 65 compulsory retirement age for pilots, as recently required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and endorsed by the Israel Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) in the Ministry of Transport.
"El Al therefore had no choice but to petition the Labor Court today in order to halt these illegal sanctions and prevent damage to the company and its passengers. Company management is making efforts to find an appropriate solution for the problem that has been forced on it," El Al stated yesterday.
In response, the El Al pilots said yesterday that they were not on strike, saying, "This accusation is cheap demagoguery by company management at the passengers' expense. El Al management is a party to the grounding of 23 pilots starting last Thursday. The result is a severe shortage of pilots. The fleet of 777's, for example, has a 25% shortage of first officers. El Al pilots are continuing, and will continue, to lend a hand wherever possible, despite the groundless and pointless statements and claims."
El Al stated, "The pilots' allegations are false and deceptive. There is no shortage of pilots. The company prepared ahead of time for the change by training dozens of new pilots. What is involved here is a wildcat and irresponsible strike resulting from the fact that the pilots did not answer a single call to appear for flights."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 18, 2014
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