The leadership of the Bezeq workers organization today decided in its words, "to break off contact" with parties advancing the opening of the communications market to competition. The workers decided on a series of measures expected to cause disruptions in services provided by international call companies Barak and Golden Lines and cellular companies Partner and Cellcom.
From today, Bezeq workers will stop handling the company switches. Starting next week on Thursday, after Israel Independence Day, the workers will stop repairing malfunctioning switches - even if these collapse. Services to some of Bezeq's customers are expected to be harmed.
Bezeq workers organization chairman Shlomo Kfir told "Globes" that the meaning of the "break off contact" decision is that the workers will not allow implementation of cable companies' infrastructure upgrading. They will prevent the hooking up of transmission lines of international call companies Golden Lines and Barak, will not serve Cellcom and Partner, and so forth.
When asked by "Globes" whether the workers would also prevent service to Bezeq subsidiary Bezeq International, Kfir answered that Bezeq International is not competing with Bezeq. He said that the workers would also not cooperate with the Ministry of Communications in advancing the new numbering plan, which is an essential condition for opening the communications market to competition.
The workers are demanding the signing of a new work agreement to ensure their rights, and the privatizing of the company before a new communications law is enacted and the communications opened to competition. Bezeq general manager Ilan Biran supports the workers demands. The workers also oppose amending the Bezeq Law to allow the cable companies to receive communications licenses and to compete with Bezeq.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on May 3, 2000