Mr. Gad Sheffer chairman of the Israeli shipper's council sent a letter last week to Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit, asking them to postpone port reforms due to go into effect on February 17.
Sheffer emphasized that his request was made in order "to prevent a strike that would cause grave economic harm." Sheffer asked the ministers to raise the issue at the next cabinet meeting.
Representatives of the import/export business sector support the council's appeal.
The shippers council wanted the cabinet to agree to postpone the implemention of the reforms if negotiations between the Finance Ministry, the Histadrut labor federation and the port workers' committees fail to reach agreement in time.
The ports reforms would not take effect until a new collective agreement regarding workers' rights in the ports was signed by the three parties.
Our correspondent learnt last week that under the ports reform, ports workers expected to receive a 15% pay hike and a one-time bonus, NIS 35,000-40,000, per employee.
At the end of last week it was made known that Ministry of Finance and ports workers were close to reaching understanding on these two items, and are close to finalizing an agreement.
The ports' workers committee lifted their threat to strike last week, after realizing that the Histadrut Trade Union Federation would not support a strike.
Representatives of the workers committee met last week Manufacturers Association president Shraga Brosh, who promised to help reach an agreement. The ports workers committees announced that they would convene on Sunday to decide on subsequent measures.
