Israel Railways management summoned the workers committee leaders and threatened them with a lawsuit after the employees ignored a court injunction and continued to disrupt operations, effectively breaking the law.
"Minister of Transport Israel Katz has ordered Israel Railways management to implement the ruling, after the Railways employees defied the court order, and personally sue everyone who prevented the opening of the new West Rishon LeZion railway station," said Israel Railways management in a statement. "In accordance with this directive, Israel Railways management has asked the court for remedies against the workers committee for contempt of court. The Railways will also file personal lawsuits and suspend from the Railways every employee who tried to prevent the opening of the new line today, thereby breaking the law, contravening the Labor Court decision, and harming railway passengers and the company."
At 5 am today, Tel Aviv District Labor Court Judge Efrat Laxer ordered the Israel Railways employees to open the new line between Tel Aviv and West Rishon LeZion. The ruling came after an all-night hearing, which followed railway employees' threats not to open the line.
At 8 am, the West Rishon LeZion Station was open, and passengers embarked on the train - which did not move. The new line is scheduled to make the trip to Tel Aviv in 18 minutes - compared with one hour bus ride. Thousands of passengers are expected to use the new service.
Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini today called on the Railways workers to resume regular work and honor the court decision. "I intend to personally lead the Railways workers' struggle. This is a battle of principle against the privatization of labor and the bringing in of contract workers."
On Friday, Judge Laxer ordered the Railways employees to resume regular work. She said that their strike was politically motivated, and therefore illegal. She ordered the workers to resume negotiations with Railways management.
Judge Laxer also ordered the state to discuss only the effects on employees who will be outsourced, and not on the decision to privatize the railways' maintenance operations. She then issued an injunction ordering the Railways employees to halt their labor sanctions.
The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) plans to appeal the injunction with the National Labor Court, on the grounds that outsourcing will affect the future of the Israel Railways Union, and that the labor sanctions are therefore legitimate.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 25, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011