A leading Communist Party of Israel activist, MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) slammed Tuesday Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz’s decision to reorganize Israel Railways into three separate companies as a forward step to privatization. At a press conference, Katz said that a complete reform of the Israeli train system was necessary. Katz said that train passengers were “being held hostage” by unions that imposed “endless strikes on them in order to achieve labor goals”, and that he intended to put a stop to it.
MK Khenin said that the decision was the beginning of the privatization of Israel Railways by the neo-liberal government. “Experience in other countries shows that railway privatization is difficult. In Britain and other countries the parameters of service and safety fell dramatically after the railroad there was privatized. One parameter, however – the cost to passengers – rose.” Khenin called on Katz to strengthen Israel Railways and not privatize it, “as befits a crucial public service,” he said.
Bulgarian railways workers rally, chanting and carrying posters that read: “Stop the privatization”. Bulgarian workers started a strike on November 24, 2011, the largest railway strike since the 1920s, against government decision to reorganize railways into separate companies (Photo: Sofia Photo Agency)
In the announcement Monday, Katz said negotiations with the labor unions have reached a dead-end and Histadrut labor federation called Katz reckless for the move. The Histadrut said the move proved Katz wasn’t looking to reach an agreement, but rather wage war on the train union and rail employees.
MK Khenin voiced Monday night concern following the announcement, telling Channel 2 news such a step was the start of a process that would privatize the rail services in Israel. “Such a move would harm everyone,” he warned.
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