Labor Strikes in Israel

The Israel garbage is soon gone from the stage of history, thanks to the actions of the workingclass. There are now general strikes in Israel as the Israeli economy sinks to the bottom of the sea, and the sooner it sinks, the better not only for the US taxpayer who pays for it all, but for all humanity.

The World Socialist Website has another fabulous article in its section, "Workers Struggles Around the World," dated August 16, 2002, describing a general strike in Israel against the Zionist government's anti-labor policies. It is quoted in full below and is at:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/aug2002/work-a16.shtml

"Over a million take part in Israel general strike"

"Public sector workers in Israel went on a three-hour strike on August 12 to demand wage increases. The industrial action is the first in a series of planned protests to demand a cost-of-living wage adjustment and to oppose government plans to cut the 2003 budget. After three years of little or no inflation, consumer prices increased by 6.3 percent in the first six months of the year on the back of a sharp depreciation of the shekel."

"The strike effectively shut all government offices, local authorities, municipalities, customs, railways, government owned companies, ports, banks and private industries that are unionised. Government owned Israel Radio went off the air. Israel Electric was also affected and the Bezeq telephone company’s operators and information numbers were not in service."

"The Fire and Rescue Services and government hospitals were scheduled to hold union meetings during the strike period to maintain their readiness to respond to emergencies."

"The strike went ahead despite a last-minute call by Histadrut trade union federation chairman Amir Peretz on prime minister Ariel Sharon to avert industrial action by negotiating a policy package that would compensate employees for inflation."

"Peretz told Histadrut activists in Rishon Lezion that the strike would be a one-off action and that the government would have another two weeks to open talks with the union."

"In July, the government approved $1.9 billion in fiscal cuts in the $44.6 billion 2003 budget to close a widening deficit. According to the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, each strike day costs the economy NIS 50 million ($US6.4 million)."

"Israeli fuel depot maintenance workers continue strike"

"Workers at the Pi Glilot company, which maintains fuel depots across Israel, continued their strike on August 13 after talks with infrastructure ministry officials failed to bring an end to the strike, which began the previous day."

"The workers are protesting forced vacation plans for 21 of the firm’s 170 employees, as well as the closing of depots in Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva. Pi Glilot intends to lay off workers as a result of reforms in the fuel industry that have forced the company to reduce prices by about 20 percent, costing the company some NIS 30 million."

"The workers stopped supplying fuel to gas stations, Ben Gurion Airport and the Israel Electric Company. This could lead to shortages in industrial and private fuel, including gasoline for vehicles and jet fuel. Since the fuel companies have reserves, the shortages would not be felt for several days."

"The major gas companies have warned that if the strike does not end immediately, there could be fuel shortages in gas stations throughout the country, mainly in the Jerusalem and southern areas."