Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) will go on strike on Sunday, after the Ministry of Finance has again delayed paying salaries as a way to apply pressure in the talks on the company's privatization. The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) announced the planned strike yesterday, after previously declaring a labor dispute at the company.
IMI's employees are already planning other labor sanctions, even before the strike begins. Beginning today, they will not show up for the second and third shifts, or work overtime. They are also threatening to suspend two scheduled tests for foreign buyers.
IMI workers committee chairman Itzik Yehuda said, "It's unacceptable that every time the employees raise reservations in the negotiations, the Ministry of Finance prevents them from feeding their children."
Histadrut Trade Union Division chairman Avi Nissenkoren said, "As far as the Histadrut is concerned, non-payment of salaries crosses the red line, which no disagreement in negotiations can justify. It's unacceptable for negotiations to be held under pressures and threats by the Ministry of Finance. We are demanding payment of salaries by law, and not as a precondition. Instead of the Ministry of Finance sitting down to solve disagreements, it applies illegitimate pressure against the workers."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 11, 2012
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