El Al: Labor dispute was declared

It is understood that under El Al streamlining plan the company wants to fire some 600 employees but the Histadrut will approve only a much small number of lay-offs
 
The General Federation of Labor in Israel (Histadrut) declared last week a labor dispute at El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. The Histadrut's announcement was preceded by a late-night meeting between Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini and El Al CEO Haim Romano.
 
Labor relations between El Al’s management and the General Federation of Labor have been rather tense due to the airline’s decision two months ago to give an ultimatum to the Histadrut to inform the airline’s employees to sign the new collective agreement within two days. El Al's management insisted that failure to sign the new collective agreement would abrogate the present collective agreement.
 
Although El Al’s board approved management’s decision, the ultimatum has not yet been issued.
 
It is understood that under El Al streamlining plan the company wants to fire some 600 employees but the Histadrut will approve only a much small number of lay-offs.
 
It is understood that at the meeting Eini offered to postpone the declaration of a labor dispute and hold negotiations on a new collective labor agreement. Romano rejected the offer.