(haipo) - Dagon silos were shut down today (Sun. 5/2/23) for an hour and a half (between 13:30-15:00), during which there was a meeting of workers, who feel real concern about the continuation of their employment.
The workers, with the support of the Histadrut, submitted a request for a labor dispute 14 days ago, so that from today they can disable the silos. According to the workers, the agreement recently signed with the Gadot company that employs them, is an interim agreement, and now they fear for their job security, therefore embarking on a renewed struggle, which has nothing to do with their previous struggle.
In the interim agreement, the employees sought to improve their employment conditions and their wages. The workers claimed that the work in the silos is physically very difficult and what further complicates the work is that not every shift is staffed by all the workers who are supposed to be on shift. The employees claimed that because of the salary it is difficult to retain the employees, and there are cases where a new employee arrives and learns the job over the course of a few months, but in the end, due to the employment conditions, he does not stay at the job and prefers to retire.
The workers' committee claimed that if wages were more competitive compared to other workplaces, it would be easier to retain the workers and recruit new workers if necessary. The members of the committee also stated that the current struggle does not specifically refer to the terms of employment, but to the occupational security of the workers.
According to the workers, in two years the construction of a new silo will be completed in the port of Israel Shipyards. The workers are interested in Hani (Israel Ports Company) making a commitment that whoever will manage the new silo, under a concession he will receive from Hani, will be obligated to continue employing the workers.
The employees' fear for their workplace in the event of a move to a new silo
Since the state intends to build a new silo at the Port of Israel Shipyards and in light of the uncertainty regarding the continued operation of the Dagon silo in the future, the workers wish to ensure their continued employment in any plan chosen by the state to operate a silo in the Haifa area.
The Gadot company is changing direction
The Gadot company, which today operates the Dagon silos and employs the workers, will cease to operate the Dagon silos in the near future. The reason for this is its winning the operation of the Haifa port together with the Indian investor Adani and according to the state's demand that in light of the winning the operation of the Haifa port and the chemical terminal, it must stop operating the Dagon silos.
A new tender for the operation of Dagon silos
Hani published a new tender on 1/1/23, for the operation of Dagon silos. The winner of the tender has not yet been announced.
The Gadot company (which is the current operator and employer) did not participate in this tender.
The employees want to ensure the continuation of their employment regardless of the new operator.
"Hanai came out with a new tender for the silos, and we found ourselves without the promise that we would work in the new silo," says the workers' committee. Part of the commitment of winning the port is to lift the activity, which means building a new silo (in Israeli shipyards). What is happening with the employees? Going home. We have no promise that we will move to the new silo."
"Unlike the agreement with Gadot, according to which the workers will move from silo to silo, now we have no guarantee. We asked for job security, that we will move from silo to silo. But Hani, which owns the property, says they are not ready to take responsibility for us.
We announced that we are examining the measures together with the Histadrut. As a result, today for an hour and a half the silo did not work. If we continue not to receive approval, we will tighten the measures and everything in coordination with the Histadrut. We are led through the Histadrut Transportation Union, headed by Attorney Eyal Yadin and Attorney Nir Eisenberg. They help us a lot and fight for an employment solution for us."
Hani's response - Israel Ports Company: "We see great importance in continuing the continuous operation of the silo"
Israel Ports Company reported:
"The silo workers are employed within the framework of a collective agreement, which regulates the labor relations between them and the employer. Hani is not a party to these labor relations. Without detracting from the obligations of the silo operator, Hani sees great importance in continuing the continuous operation of the silo."
No one should be in a job that has no future there, look for another job. Leave all together straight to the unemployment office and see how the management will come to you.