El Al Remains Grounded

EI AI Israel’s national airline, grounded by decision of its own management since Thursday night because of a work slowdown by maintenance crews, continued today to dispatch its passengers and cargos by foreign carriers despite a loss estimated at IL 2 million a day. Histadrut’s efforts to mediate the dispute have failed so far. The Histadrut executive announced this afternoon that it would waive its obligations to the maintenance workers unless they agreed to resume normal work routines by noon tomorrow.

Mordechai Ben Ari, EI Al’s managing director, has notified all of the airline’s employes to stay at home. The maintenance workers received letters stating that their services were no longer required but the letters did not refer to dismissals.

Ben Ari said, however, that employes who were not working would not be paid. As this applies to employes not involved in the slowdown, it appeared that El Al’s strategy was to have the latter exert pressure on the maintenance crews to resume normal work. El Al said it would not resume service until it had firm assurances that labor troubles will not Jeopardize its future operations.

FOREIGN AIRLINES PICKING UP PASSENGERS

Meanwhile, at El Al’s request, foreign airlines have flown extra planes to Israel to pick up passengers holding El Al tickets. The airline said the arrangement was working smoothly despite delays caused by the different flight schedules of the foreign carriers. Foreign cargo planes are also picking up Israel’s winter exports to the European markets, mainly fresh fruits and flowers,

Histadrut’s ultimatum to the maintenance workers was adopted by a 76-16 majority. Likud abstained. Likud and the Independent Liberals called for compulsory arbitration of labor disputes involving essential services but the Histadrut Central Committee rejected that proposal by 77-30.