Israel Hit by Power Blackout As Power Station Workers Cut Output

Electric power station employes blacked out large parts of Israel tonight as they cut output by 50 percent. But they backtracked at the last minute from an earlier threat to halt all electricity supplies by nightfall. Power station workers said they were agreeing to maintain a 50 percent power supply and negotiations with management were proceeding, although the workers complained that management was “playing poker” with them.

But even with only 50 percent cutbacks, large traffic jams built up especially in Tel Aviv as traffic lights failed. Extra police were put on duty and the public was asked to refrain from non-essential driving. Home owners were warned not to use elevators or non-essential electrical equipment. Israelis throughout the country were relying on candles they had stocked up to light their apartments. To spread the burden, the electric power corporation switched the power cuts from area to area, restoring electricity briefly at each point.

(Some of the overseas news wire services were also interrupted, preventing stories from being transmitted. Correspondents for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency telephoned their stories from Israel to New York.)

The power station operators, described by the electric corporation as the highest paid workers in the country, earning four times the national average, are demanding a 25 percent salary increase.

The dispute became serious after the power station operators cut output at the Haifa and Ashdod power stations by 10 percent yesterday. Management responded by immediately dismissing their work committee. All other power station workers, some 400, responded by declaring a 100 percent strike by this evening — an action which would have completely paralyzed the entire country.

Finance Minister Yoram Aridor said he would not allow the government-owned electric corporation to grant salary increases beyond the minimum laid down by his wage policy.