Even this morning, almost 24 hours after the rainstorm that hit Israel yesterday, thousands of homes are still without power. The Labor Court has ordered Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) workers to work 72 hours in emergency mode, and they did in fact work all night to repair damage to power lines.
In the Sharon area, Netanya and Ra'anana there are still substantial disruptions to the power supply. IEC believes that most of the damage will be repaired by this afternoon.
Commenting on the go-slow by IEC workers, Minister of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Yuval Steinitz said, "I call on the IEC workers to make every effort to repair the faults quickly and to connect Israelis who have been cut off to the power network. Disputes over the reform of IEC must not translate into disruption of such a vital service to Israel's citizens."
Yesterday, IEC management turned to the Labor Court after forming the impression that IEC workers were not working in emergency mode as required in the circumstances, and that this was on the instructions of the workers committee. The company requested the court to order the workers to operate in emergency mode and not to conduct disputes on the backs of thousands of customers. The court acceded to the request, and ordered the workers to work in emergency format.
IEC workers committee chairman Miki Zarfati denied the management's claims, saying that they would be clarified in court. "This is an ugly action on the part of the management and a disgusting spin," workers committee sources said, "The workers have been doing their utmost since morning, and the management is shifting the responsibility."
Two weeks ago, at a session of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee on the planned reform of IEC, Zarfati uttered an explicit threat. "If Ofer Bloch (IEC CEO) thinks I'll let him fire 1,500 workers, he's mistaken. IEC's situation is improving? It only looks that way to you. Do you think we'll recue you in the next storm? You're all wrong… Do you think the workers will pay the price? You're wrong. Wait for what happens in the next storm… everyone here sanctifies competition even though it won't lead to cheaper electricity. That's garbage. There's someone here who profits from it, tycoons who sell electricity to tycoons and blame IEC workers for the price of electricity."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 26, 2015
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