Four thousand workers of the Mekorot water company went on a 24-hour strike today to protest government plans to sell certain affiliates of the State-owned company to Histadrut’s giant construction cooperative, Solel Boneh. The strike did not affect Israel’s water supply as the workers agreed to a request by Minister of Agriculture Yosef Almogi to man the pumping stations, though on a reduced Saturday schedule.
Almogi has proposed the sale of the Mekorot affiliates because of their accumulated losses. The affiliates are engaged in land reclamation work and build dams and reservoirs. The Mekorot workers say the sale would give Solel Boneh a monopoly in these fields and would cause employes of the sub-companies to lose their jobs.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.