Officials of the struck El Al Israel National Airlines announced plans today to operate its Britannias with foreign crews as the deadlock entered its sixth day without any indications of a solution.
El Al ground workers and the Histadrut, Israel’s Labor Federation, said they would help in the operation of airliners handled by foreign crews. The Histadrut meanwhile announced it had received a cable from the International Pilots Association refusing support to the striking aircrews which was regarded here as a green light for operation by foreign crews.
The airline meanwhile announced a temporary timetable operated by foreign companies most of which use special or chartered planes. The new timetable was set for 11 days, starting today, on all regular El Al flights. Various efforts made yesterday at mediation were made fruitless by the uncompromising position of the strikers who reportedly brought up new demands, such as one for the dismissal of all non-striking El Al workers, including five flight inspectors.
A new attempt by Air Force Commander Ezer Weizmann to get the strikers back on the job was rejected as was a suggestion for the establishment of a committee with a high-ranking Air Force officer as chairman to investigate the claims of the strikers, the principal one of which is a demand for higher pay which the airline says is impossible. Flight schedules at Lydda airport were reported normal today, with planes arriving and departing on schedule.
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