The National Labor Court issued a decision Saturday night that the 500 employees at Ben Gurion Airport, most of whom were baggage handlers, maintenance and cleaning personnel, must go back to work or face the same fate as 120 of their co-workers who received dismissal notices last week.
The court upheld the dismissals despite the strike initiated in their support. The 500 workers, who are also seeking tenure, will face a hearing to discuss their status. They ended their strike Friday afternoon.
The Israel Airports Authority which employs the workers said the dismissals were part of its annual review and restructuring of its staff. Airport Authority Director-General Gabi Ophir said dismissal hearings were routine. “Each year we match the manpower we have to the amount needed at the airport….. In the past two weeks we have been conducting talks, yet no progress has been made.”
The strike, which began on Wednesday, caused flight departure delays of up to six hours. Permanent workers who were called in as backup scrambled to assist passengers reach their destinations before the start of the Sabbath on Friday afternoon.
Some airlines were forced to take off without their baggage. Passengers upon arrival discovered they would either have to wait for their belongings to be delivered later at some undetermined time, or come back to the airport after the Sabbath to claim them.
The Airports Authority reportedly called in tenured employees to fill in for the striking temporary workers.
The court upheld the dismissals despite the strike initiated in their support. The 500 workers, who are also seeking tenure, will face a hearing to discuss their status. They ended their strike Friday afternoon.
The Israel Airports Authority which employs the workers said the dismissals were part of its annual review and restructuring of its staff. Airport Authority Director-General Gabi Ophir said dismissal hearings were routine. “Each year we match the manpower we have to the amount needed at the airport….. In the past two weeks we have been conducting talks, yet no progress has been made.”
The strike, which began on Wednesday, caused flight departure delays of up to six hours. Permanent workers who were called in as backup scrambled to assist passengers reach their destinations before the start of the Sabbath on Friday afternoon.
Some airlines were forced to take off without their baggage. Passengers upon arrival discovered they would either have to wait for their belongings to be delivered later at some undetermined time, or come back to the airport after the Sabbath to claim them.
The Airports Authority reportedly called in tenured employees to fill in for the striking temporary workers.