The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and the Transportation Workers Union, headed by chairman Avi Edri, have declared a work dispute at Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd.. The background to the dispute is the state's refusal to sign a subsidy agreement. Declaring a work dispute entitles Egged drivers to strike in 14 days time.
According to the Histadrut, the company has also declared its intention of holding back all the workers' pay starting in November 2016. The Egged workers representatives are now demanding negotiations to settle the matter.
Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn said, "State officials are acting irresponsibly, and Egged is liable to collapse, thereby affecting the interests of the entire public. The cutting of public services by officials has now reached Egged, whose workers and drivers have been providing responsible and dedicated service for decades. The middle class is suffering. Instead of investing in the public transportation sector, they are trying to make it another example of contract workers."
Nissenkorn added, "We won't agree to abandon the drivers and compromise on passenger safety. We'll stand by the Egged drivers in their just struggle, and we'll fight for their employment security, while ensuring that each one of them continues to provide high-quality and safe service to Israelis."
Egged said in response, "Egged greatly regrets that we have reached such a severe crisis with the workers and the state. For 18 months, Egged has been negotiating with the Ministries of Transport and Finance for renewing the inputs agreement with the government, after the previous agreement expired nine months ago. Unfortunately, there has been no progress in the negotiations for a long time. In this situation, it is clear that we are unable to sign a new collective work agreement with the drivers ensuring their rights and those of the Egged members without a long-term agreement with the government.
"Egged has been the national leader in public transportation in Israel for 83 years. Egged carries 1.2 million passengers a day on its service routes and on special trips. The public in Israel supports Egged, and trusts its drivers, and we therefore hope that the state comes to its senses and reaches understandings with Egged for the sake of safe, efficient, and fair public transportation in Israel."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 5, 2016
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016