El Al threatened to suspend operations today unless a strike by about 120 technical supervisors ends within 24 hours. The strike, which began Sunday, has grounded the air line’s fleet of 12 Boeing jets. An urgent Cabinet meeting held last night–to which Premier Golda Meir was flown by helicopter from Haifa–supported El Al management’s threat.
The striking workers ignored a Labor Court’s back-to-work order yesterday. Their representatives refused to appear in court today to face contempt charges. Judge Yaacob Yinon ordered police to bring them in forcibly for a hearing this afternoon.
A suspension of operations by, El- Al means that the company would charter aircraft from foreign companies, employ the maintenance crews of other airlines serving Israel, or engage technical supervisors from local airplane factories. The strike by the supervisors has made it impossible to carry out routine maintenance of El Al jets. The strikers, demanding higher wages, walked off the job while negotiations were in process.
Histadrut is not supporting the strike and has invited the strikers for a discussion. Transport Minister Shimon Peres blamed El Al’s frequent labor troubles on the existence of too many workers committees which sometimes act at cross purposes to each other.
El Al, meanwhile, has arranged flights for some 1000 stranded passengers on other airlines. According to the El Al management, the strike is costing IL 1 million a day. The company said it planned a mass furlough of employes and the dismissal of temporary workers if the strike is not over by tomorrow.
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