Israel’s merchant marine was paralyzed today by a strike that caught the shipping companies in a squeeze between the two main maritime unions. Licensed officers struck in support of demands for increased differential payments. The Seaman’s Union went on strike to prevent the increase lest it further widen the wage gap between the officers and themselves. Whatever course the shipping companies adopt, they will be in conflict with one or the other union.
The strike has idled 20 Israeli ships at Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat. Israeli vessels bound for Israel have dumped their cargoes at Cyprus and export cargoes have been transferred from Israeli ships to foreign vessels. Both unions are threatening to call a general strike that would affect Israel-flag vessels now at overseas ports.
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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.
