LONDON: The Histadrut says that the ports management is not honoring the public sector collective work agreements. Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) chairman Avi Nissenkorn today declared a work dispute at Ashdod and Haifa Ports, after workers there did not receive pay increments under the public sector agreement. Nissenkorn claimed that he had warned the Ministry of Finance 10 days ago that he intended to declare a dispute in the ports, following delays implementation of the agreement, which had been scheduled to take effect in July.
The Histadrut said that the ports management was refusing to sign the adjusted agreement formulated by the Histradrut and the Ministry of Finance, even though agreements had been reached on the matter. The declaration means that if the dispute is not solved, the workers’ organization can announce a partial or complete strike in 14 days at the docks in the ports, just before the holidays, which will cause severe damage to importers and exporters. More than 90% of goods entering and leaving Israel go through Israel’s ports.
Nissenkorn said, “For a long time, according to the policy I am leading, the ports workers have been acting with responsibility and restraint, but I will not allow their rights to be abridged. I will not agree to a delay in the ports framework agreement.”
Transport Workers Union chairman Avi Edri said, “I hope that the ports management straightens up right away.” Edri called on Ashdod Port acting CEO Isaac Blumenthal and Haifa Port CEO Mendi Zaltzman “to demonstrate responsibility, respect the workers, and implement the agreements immediately. Without a solution to the crisis soon, the Histadrut will take action on all the channels at its disposal, including a full strike at the ports.”
A public sector framework agreement was signed in April, after a prolonged period of discussions between the Histadrut and the state and other public sector employers. Under the agreement, public sector workers, including the ports workers, will receive a 7.5% pay increment and a NIS 2,000 bonus (the first half was already been given out to most of the workers in January 2016). The Histadrut asserts that the ports management is not honoring the agreements, and does not intend to sign them.
