Knesset Speaker Israel Yeshayahu has called the Knesset back from vacation for a meeting Monday to discuss the seamen’s strike now in its fifth day. The session was scheduled after Gahal, the Free Center and the State List presented the necessary 30 signatures necessary to call the Knesset back into session.
With no solution of the strike in sight, the Zim Co, has sent letters of dismissals to seamen of two ships now anchored in port and plans to send similar letters to all the striking seamen, including those.in foreign ports. The Seamen’s Union ordered its men not to accept the letters. In Tel Aviv, Zim general director, Moshe Kashti, said that seamen in foreign ports will be issued tickets for return flights home. “The seamen themselves have brought this upon themselves,” he said. “They have made the ships idle.”
The shipping companies want Histadrut to act on what is considered a wildcat strike by one of its unions. But Histadrut does not plan to deal with the matter until its regular meeting Sunday.
Meanwhile the Seamen’s Union is reportedly upset by the Gahal move to convene the Knesset. The union feels it may involve their strike in a political struggle on the eve of national elections. They sent a cable to Gahal leader Menachem Beigin protesting what they called “party intervention in the efforts of the seamen to improve their working conditions and social benefits.”
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