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Last update - 17:36 19/04/2009
Israel Railways changes its story over dismissal of Arab employees
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Labor Court, IDF 

Israel Railways changed its story Sunday over the dismissal of at least 40 Arab employees, telling a court that mistakes made by the employees prompted it to introduce new employment conditions.

The government company said it made the decision in order to "improve the level of supervision," the first time such a claim had been made since the workers lost their jobs.

Israel Railways dismissed the workers at the beginning of April after changing its employment terms, and said it would employ only army veterans in the positions these workers held.
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The workers served as lookouts at level crossings, to prevent collisions between trains and vehicles. The job did not involve bearing arms.

The Tel Aviv Labor Court ordered Israel Railways on Sunday to further postpone its dismissal of Arab workers. The court had previously suspended the dismissal of the employees, who have continued to work in their old positions.

Attorney Tawfiq Tibi, who represents about 20 of the employees who petitioned the court, said the dismissals were a case of double discrimination.

"They discriminated against them firstly by firing them, and the second time by preventing those who did not serve in the army from applying for the job," Tibi said.


Related articles:
  • 40 Arabs laid off as Israel Rail saves posts for army veterans
  • Labor Court suspends dismissal of 20 Arab railway workers
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      1.   sounds very fishy 12:29  |  Bruno 19/04/09
      2.   Rewriting history 13:24  |  sh 19/04/09
      3.   Discrimination plain and simple 14:57  |  Adam 19/04/09
      4.   Reminds me of US after World War 2 15:19  |  Jackie 19/04/09
      5.   Security 16:09  |  Jim 19/04/09
      6.   Pre holocaust Germany 17:08  |  jim the mechanic 19/04/09
      7.   Disgrace 17:09  |  Fish 19/04/09
      8.   the company`s managment must be dismissed without delay!! 17:47  |  Moise 19/04/09
      9.   Israeli Railways 18:13  |  John Stein 19/04/09
      10.   the new policy should have stood in the name of security 18:35  |  zionist forever 19/04/09
      11.   What about arab tractor-drivers in Jerusalem? 22:17  |  Vitaly 19/04/09
      12.   Change Israel Railways. 22:28  |  HAL. 19/04/09
      13.   let us lie lie upon lie to justify and belie the motives behind 07:53  |  eric 20/04/09
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