Union representatives at the Ashdod Port announced a labour dispute, in which they declared their intention to strike in protest against the expansion of a plan by the Finance Ministry to establish a residential quarter adjacent to the port.

In response, the port management submitted an urgent request to the National Labour Court for an injunction against the strike, claiming that the intended construction of a residential area is a governmental decision, and that said walkout constitutes a[n] [illegal] political strike.

The port management also noted that that the decision to build the residential area still requires additional government approvals and is therefore not final.  In addition, the union did not request the management negotiate on its behalf before rushing to declare a labour dispute, thus rendering the strike both illegitimate and disproportionate, particularly in light of the tremendous damage to customers and the country’s economy as a whole.

The management also claimed that the timing of the announcement of the intention to strike was a deliberate attempt to circumvent the pending injunction against a strike, given that the management is in the midst of intense negotiations on the implications of the planned reform of the ports.

The Regional Labour Court of Beer Sheva accepted the claims of the port management in full and issued a temporary injunction on these grounds forbidding employees from disrupting normal service or from striking, prior to hearing the request in full.

Herzog’s Labour Department continues to represent and advise the Ashdod Port.