The workers’ committee at the Israel Airports Authority is threatening to disrupt operations at
Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday to protest management’s failure to ensure proper pay and other employment terms for outsourced workers.

In Dimona, workers lock themselves in a textile factory, decrying “merciless owners.” The employees of the Kitan textile plant in Dimona burned tires and locked the entrance to the factory on Thursday to protest management’s refusal to offer them fair compensation.

National Insurance Institute (NII) branches all over the country remained closed on Thursday after its employees decided to hold a one-day warning strike. NII employees demanded for its management to resume negotiations with the government for additional manpower, better salaries and working conditions. The Institute claimed that the recent decisions to add departments for senior citizens, the disabled, unemployment will add additional strain on its workers who are already collapsing under the overload of work. The strike was decided upon on Wednesday night with the full backing of the State Employees Union and will possibly worsen during this week, NII employees said.

Bezeq and Pelephone workers demonstrating in Bnei Brak on last Thursday (Photo: Pelephone’s workers committee)

Bezeq, the privatized Israeli telecommunication company, employees are joining the strike by employees at subsidiary Pelephone.  Bezeq employees joined demonstrations by Pelephone employees, and on Sunday, Bezeq’s workers committee will hold meetings.

The Histadrut said that other workers committees would later join the struggle in solidarity. “If Pelephone’s management continues to harm employees’ freedom to unionize, and does not recognize their union, more measures will be taken,” it said. “More workers committees will join the struggle next week, if Pelephone’s management continues to ignore the workers committee established at the company.” Pelephone’s workers committee said, “The struggle by Pelephone’s workers is a fight for the right to unionize. Other workers and the general public understand this. I am pleased that Bezeq’s workers, who have collective contracts, are helping us in this struggle.”