The board of directors of Israel Railways last night withdrew the suspension of eight employees who allegedly attacked the company's CEO on Sunday. The board was acting at the behest of Histadrut labor federation chairman Ofer Eini.
In exchange the workers agreed to sit tight and let Eini personally handle negotiations with the state over the workers' various complaints.
While the talks continue the union will refrain from steps that impair service or damage the company. Nor may it do anything without Eini's blessing, the parties agreed.
Management suspended the eight, including three members of the union's workplace for preventing Israel Railways CEO Boaz Zafrir from entering the company's garage in Lod. Management says they used violence and were invited to a preliminary hearing. As they didn't show up for the hearing, that was that.
Eini and the workplace union chiefs, headed by Gila Edrei, will meet with Transportation Minister Israel Katz tomorrow in an effort to revive the abortive contract negotiations between the state and IR employees.
Among the union's complaints are the company's decision to outsource various jobs, including train maintenance. The workers also want a raise, and have been offered 12%.
