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🇮🇱 Israel /Energy & Infrastructure

Ben-Gurion Airport management knew of staff shortages before crisis, union rep. says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • An Israeli union representative stated that Ben-Gurion Airport management was aware of employee shortages for months before a recent strike caused severe disruptions.
  • The union claims the strike was initiated by workers on the ground, with the Histadrut labor federation offering formal support after the fact.
  • Management faced difficulties recruiting staff for key positions, despite warnings from department heads about the shortage.

Management at Ben-Gurion Airport was aware of significant employee shortages for months leading up to the severe disruptions caused by a strike earlier this month, according to Attorney Naomi Landau, who represents the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) employees' union. Landau stated on the 103FM program "Where's the Money" that the labor disruptions were initiated or coordinated by the workers' union and employees on the ground.

The Histadrut labor federation reportedly discovered the dispute and chaos only after it had already begun. While the federation provided formal support, its chairman stated that no specific instruction for a strike had been issued by the Histadrut in the initial hours. Landau noted that the absence of an official labor dispute declaration, partly due to the chairman being abroad and the Histadrut being on recess, limited the workers' union's legal ability to launch a strike.

I don’t know how we will get through August; we need another 400 workers. I say with full responsibility, there will probably be lines in the coming period. Management is doing everything to recruit. But right now, many more workers are still missing.

— Pinchas IdanWarning about the severe worker shortage at Ben-Gurion Airport in May.

Landau presented evidence that the manpower shortage had been a known issue for months. She quoted Pinchas Idan from May, who warned, "I don’t know how we will get through August; we need another 400 workers. I say with full responsibility, there will probably be lines in the coming period." Idan acknowledged management's efforts to recruit but stressed the ongoing deficit.

Furthermore, Landau confirmed that other officials within the Airports Authority had also issued advance warnings about the shortage. She emphasized the difficulties management encountered in recruiting workers for these essential positions during the current period, indicating that department heads had consistently alerted management to the problem.

The heads of departments warned about this, absolutely.

— Naomi LandauConfirming that department heads had alerted management to the employee shortage.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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