Israel Matzav

Someone please tell me I'm going to get home for Rosh HaShanna

My father z"l (of blessed memory), whose grave I am about to go visit, used to say that in Israel, half the country was always on strike, and the other half was always watching. He said this back in the late 70's when it happened much more often than it does today. But today, it seems to be happening again.

Unions representing government workers stepped up their work sanctions in support of Israel Post Office employees, who are protesting an efficiency plan they say is likely to get many of them fired. On Sunday, Israel's courts were effectively closed until further notice, as court workers refused to accept petitions, complaints, and other paperwork from citizens.

In addition, workers at border crossings began preventing the transfer of packages and goods through Israel's eastern and northern borders. That work action mostly affects Palestinian Authority Arabs, who import and export goods via the bridge crossings into and out of Jordan.

Meanwhile, sanctions that were begun last week continued on Sunday. Tax Authority offices were closed to the public, and Israelis who owe back taxes can only pay via credit card over the Internet (penalties and interest, of course, will apply to late payers, despite the lack of service).

Airports Authority workers held a wildcat strike Thursday morning that affected 58 departures and arrivals, with 8,000 passengers experiencing serious delays.

Meanwhile, post offices in most parts of the country are continuing their strike. The labor disputes surround demands by workers that none of their number be fired as part of an efficiency plan Post Office management says is necessary. The Treasury has said that it can give no such assurances, and that without the efficiency plan, the Post Office Corporation will go broke by the end of the year.

That ought to help the tourism industry, eh? I really don't feel like spending Rosh HaShanna in Cyprus, but I can rest assured that if anyone doesn't get home before Rosh HaShanna because of one of these inane sympathy strikes, the government will finally bite the bullet and break the unions.

בשביל זה יש הסתדרות (for this we have the Histadrut).

Labels: Ben Gurion Airport, general strike, Histadrut

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:06 PM