Again: Haifa Port operations workers in strike action

The strike ended late last week and the side agreed to commence full negotiation procedure on 13th, 14th & 15th October.

The Israel Ports Authority ( IPA ) petitioned last Monday the Haifa District Labor Court for an urgent injunction against the operation workers' strike that began in Haifa Port before the Sukkot holiday.
 
Operation workers at the port were on strike on 30/09 & 02/10 and declared their intention to continue until demands are met.
 
The strike ended late last week and the side agreed to commence full negotiation procedure on 13th, 14th & 15th October.
 
It is understood that the Histadrut Trade Union Federation were surprised to be informed about the strike and their representative Mr. Igal Cohen expressed this fact before the IPA during the three days holiday.
 
The IPA claimed in its labor court petition heard by Judge Michael Shpitzer, that workers were conducting an illegal and unjustified wildcat strike. IPA emphasized that operation workers decided on the strike without any prior warning or coordination with the Histadrut Trade Union Federation. The background to the strike was a decision taken a year ago by the ports management to change the work arrangements for the port operations workers.
 
According to the Ports Authority the only explanation for the wildcat strike was unexplained motives on the part of the operation workers committee, which had nothing to do with work arrangements in the port.