Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” reports that while the ports workers committee has declared a strike, paralyzing the import and export of goods and causing immense economic damage, the workers are earning exorbitant salaries.
An internal Ministry of Finance document covering 2002 reveals that that the average gross salary of Israel's 3,808 ports workers is NIS 20,000 a month. The average salary of senior workers is NIS 40,864 a month. The average salary of Ports Authority workers is one of the three highest in Israel.
The Ministry of Finance stated yesterday that paying such high salaries to thousands of workers and hundreds of top managers was completely unacceptable. If the ports are privatized and begin competing between each other, the salaries to the workers would be more reasonable.
The Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) and ports workers rejected the comments yesterday, saying, "This is a manipulation by the Ministry of Finance, suddenly revealing mendacious figures about the ports workers' salaries. The basic pay is much lower. Most of the salaries comprise premiums and overtime, including many hours of night work."
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 2, 2003