The negotiations between the orange-planters and the Jewish laborers initiated by the Vaad Leumi have thus far been unproductive of results, Pinchas Rutenberg reported to the Vaad Leumi meeting here which heard reports from both sides on the conflicts at Ness Ziona and Petach Tikvah. The labor representative intimated that labor was willing to negotiate all controversial issues if the planters undertook to engage all the unemployed.
The conflict between the Jewish workers and the orange-planters at Petach Tikvah has led to wholesale arrest and conviction of workers by a magistrate especially brought from Tel Aviv to try the cases, following a charge that the laborers had attacked the houses of two planters. British police were also rushed there from Jaffa.
Sixty-five laborers were arrested at Petach Tikvah for picketing the orange-groves and sentenced to one month in prison or ten dollars for security for good behavior during the year. Two members of the labor secretariat were remanded for trial on a charge of threatened murder.
The difficulties between the workers and the planters resulted from the latter’s unwillingness to pay what the laborers consider a wage compatible with minimum requirements.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
