Brosh: shippers will boycott Ashdod Port unless workers end the disruptions

Shraga Brosh, Manufacturers Association president said last week that unless the Ashdod Port’s management and workers committee settle their disputes and end the disruptions at the port, he would recommend that exporters and importers use other ports
 
Workers at Israel's Port of Ashdod went on strike Tuesday after port management refused to triple wages for working on election day. Israel designated Tuesday as a national holiday, except for emergency services and works related to the elections.
 
The union representing the Ashdod workers rejected a management offer to double regular wages, which is the normal rate for working on Shabbat and other holidays. But the workers refused, holding out for 300% plus a premium.
 
The Manufacturers Association says these disputes has slowed down the loading and unloading of ships at the port and added that shippers would refuse to pay the congestion surcharge, now that it has been abolished.
 
Sources at the Israeli Chamber of Shipping were outrage, calling the workers' move a pure strike. Same sources added that workers action will cause tens of millions of shekels in damage to exporters and importers and threaten that the companies may consider to re-apply a congestion surcharge.
 
At the port of Haifa, an agreement was reached with workers who accepted 200%.