MIDDLE EAST

Israeli courts order strikers back to work

18 years ago

Striking Israeli port unions are the subject of legal action being taken by the Manufacturers Association and the Chambers of Commerce, who claim that strike action is in contempt of court.

Port Strategy: Israel's ports, including Eilat (pictured), have been crippled by strikes

This follows a directive issued by the courts in September forcing striking stevedores to go back to work.

At the same time, the National Labour Court also ordered the Ministry of Finance to suspend transfer of port operations to Israel Port Development & Assets Co Ltd.

However, striking workers ignored the directive, prompting independent legal action to be taken.

Road haulage companies reacted in October by boycotting Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat ports to protest against losses being incurred by them because of the strikes. In mid-October, the ports were working at 50 of capacity because of the industrial action.