Again, closed skies: The Airports Authority Workers' Committee began a strike today (Thursday), a little earlier than expected, in solidarity with postal workers who are threatened with layoffs. The strike, which was supposed to start at 11:00 AM, went into effect at approximately 10:30 AM. The strike is expected to last until 2:00 PM.
As part of the strike, takeoffs and baggage unloading at landings are delayed by about an hour and a half. Ben Gurion Airport management and the workers' committee emphasize that the harm to passengers is minimal and is mainly intended to convey a message to the government to intervene in the postal crisis. In this context, passengers are asked to check the airlines' flight schedules before arriving at the airport.
""For now, I've only been informed that check-in and security screening have been delayed for the moment," said one of the passengers who was scheduled to fly to Belgium at 1:15 p.m. "According to the registration, the flight will leave on time, but I don't know when I'll check in. Instead of being delayed here, we could go upstairs and rest in the duty-free shop.".
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From time to time, the voices of airport workers are heard over loudspeakers, explaining to passengers in Hebrew and English that due to the Histadrut strike, there may be delays in the passenger acceptance processes. "We need solidarity with postal workers, but the airport is the face of the country," claimed the passenger waiting for his flight to Belgium. "This is the last place we should be on strike. It's unpleasant.".
Another passenger sought to express optimism, saying that "there might only be an hour's delay." In contrast, a French tourist who was planning to return to Paris this morning with her toddler son said: "I don't know why I have to wait hours. I'm nervous. It's not normal. I have a baby, my sister is pregnant, it's not good.".
In addition to the strike at the airport, the shutdown of postal services within the framework of government ministries is also expected to continue. Among other things, fines will not be paid, and the transfer of mail in vehicles will not be possible at post offices. Disruptions are also expected at seaports due to a strike in solidarity with the HODAR workers being held by Ministry of Health employees. As a result, ships will be prevented from entering the ports because the workers will not issue approval and inspection documents that are a condition for ships entering the port.
""1,500 employees will not be laid off""
The strike was announced yesterday by the Israel Airports Authority's employee committee, headed by committee chairman Pinchas Idan. Airports Authority officials said that such short notice of a strike at Ben Gurion Airport would encourage all parties involved in the postal issue to come together to find a solution. "It is not possible for the state to lay off 1,500 employees and take on disadvantaged workers and contractor workers in their place," said Pinchas Idan, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority's committee.
The strike comes at a particularly sensitive time at the airport. Tomorrow, the air train to Uman in Ukraine is scheduled to resume, when thousands of Breslov Hasidim will go out to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at the rabbi's grave. At the same time, the aviation and tourism industries are only just beginning to recover from the damage of Operation Protective Edge, which severely damaged the tourism industry, and the airport shutdown will further harm hoteliers' efforts to bring tourists back to Israel.
