Railway strike ends
Israel Railway workers' union heeds Labor Court's injunction, ends strike deemed by Histadrut labor federation deems move 'unjustified, illegal'
The railway workers' union informed the Haifa Labor Court that it had instructed its members to return to their posts.
Earlier, Thursday, the court granted the Israel Railway an ex parte temporary injunction against the workers strike declared unexpectedly overnight. The court ordered railway workers to resume operations immediately.
Israel Railway workers halted all railway traffic starting Thursday at midnight. The strike was not sanctioned by the Histadrut labor federation, prompting it to announce it would not support the move, since it is seen as a "wildcat strike, which is unjustified and illegal."
The Israel Railway administration initially petitioned the Labor Court for an injunction against the strike overnight. The court granted the Railway Administration several habeas corpus orders against the strikes' organizers overnight as well, compelling them to attend the hearing scheduled for Thursday morning. They failed to appear, and a second hearing has been set for 1 pm in order to allow the workers to state their case.
Pushing for the strike are the railway workers' unofficial union. The de facto union has suspended its actions, since both its head and his deputy are under police investigation for alleged corruption.
The workers stated no official reason for the strike, but it is believed that the workers are protesting the recent dismissal of dozens of employees and replacing them with personnel affiliated with management.
"The reason for the strike remains unclear and no labor dispute has been declared," said an Israel Railway statement. Head of the transportation portfolio in the Histadrut has contacted the Railway's CEO overnight and has assured him that the Histadrut "views the strike as illegal and therefore will not support it."
Shahar Haselkorn and Ahiya Raved contributed to this report
