Oil Refineries’ workers declared a strike today, after negotiations with the Government Companies Authority broke down last night. Haifa oil refinery workers committee chairman Reuven Schwartzberg told "Globes" that the Government Companies Authority was unwilling to guarantee the workers’ rights, and planned to sell the Ashdod refinery without an agreement with the workers.
The workers have stopped distributing fuel to fuel companies and related industries, including Haifa Chemicals and Carmel Olefins.
Representatives of the Government Companies Authority met last night with Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini, Schwartzberg, and Ashdod oil refinery workers committee chairman Yaakov Davra.
The workers claim that the Government Companies Authority is unwilling to conduct real negotiations towards a settlement with them. Schwartzberg said, “We won’t let (Government Companies Authority director) Eyal Gabbai throw us out of here, and bring in new workers at the minimum wage. Over 60% of Oil Refineries’ workers have seniority, and are over 50. Our job is to guarantee them job security, even after privatization.”
Schwartzberg stated that oil refining activity would stop within a short time, due to storage limitations.
In cooperation with the Ministries of National Infrastructures, Finance, and Justice, Oil Refineries’ management is preparing back-to-work orders. Schwartzberg said in response, “We know how to prepare for that scenario, too. You can’t put the Oil Refineries workers back to work just by issuing orders.”
Oil Refineries chairman Ohad Marani said in response that he called on all parties to return to the negotiating table and bridge their differences.
The Ministry of Finance said in response that it and the Government Companies Authority were holding discussions with the workers, and had offered them exceptional terms. The ministry believes that the workers are making exorbitant demands.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on January 23, 2006