(Hai Fa) – The fight against the liquidation and sale of the shipping company Zim reaches a stage: After two days of a warning strike, the ZIM workers' union announced this morning (Tuesday, February 17, 2026) a general strike until further notice. The decision was made at the end of a stormy workers' meeting held in the company's office plaza in Haifa, against the backdrop of the board of directors' initiative headed by Yair Saroussi to sell the successful company to Hapag-Lloyd, a move that the union claims was carried out without prior notification, without cooperation, and without negotiations with the workers' representatives.
According to the committee, during the 48-hour warning strike, the workers expected the company's management and board of directors to approach them in an attempt to negotiate, but this did not happen. "We expected them to come talk to us, explain, negotiate. That did not happen," he said. Committee Chairman, Oren Caspi"Until now, we have partially suspended the company's activities and allowed exceptional activities so as not to harm it financially. As of today, this has stopped. The ships are standing in ports, in Valencia, Ashdod and Haifa. We will intensify the struggle until we receive a clear commitment to protecting the rights of the workers."
Fear of split and layoffs of hundreds of employees
At the center of the fury is a plan that the workers claim is expected to split the company into two entities. Currently, Zim Israel employs about 800 workers who are unionized under a collective agreement, about 100 workers under individual contracts, and about 300 contractor workers. In total, about 1,200 people work in Israel. Most of the employees arrive every morning at the company's headquarters in Haifa. In addition, the company employs about 5,000 workers in about 100 countries around the world.
Committee members tell the paper that the FIMI Fund will take over the "golden share" and operate a limited company with only 7-11 ships in Israel, employing about 120 people, while the rest of the activity, which includes dozens of new ships that have been ordered, will be transferred to the German company Hapag Lloyd, which is partially controlled by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
According to the workers, this means leaving hundreds of workers without employment security, and even a strategic danger to the country: “There is a move here that could leave Israel without a significant Israeli-owned shipping company. If, God forbid, a security escalation occurs, we will have to ask a foreign company to bring ships into Israel,” said one of the committee members.
Assi Segal, a member of the workers' committee, added: “We were exposed to the move through the press. We expected cooperation, negotiations, serious consideration. Instead, we received a fait accompli. The deal was signed and we are forced to fight to protect the workers and ZIM as an Israeli company.”
“We spat blood for society”
The personal pain of the workers was evident in the words of My father-in-law, Sales manager at Zim, who has worked at the company for 37 years: “When the company was in its greatest slump in 2008 and 2014, we spit blood for it. We donated our salaries, gave up vacation days, asked customers to make advance payments so that there would be cash flow. Zim is our home. Now, when there are profits and whoever approves the sale will get rich, we are expected to be treated with the same respect. The CEO wrote that all achievements are due to the employees, so they should respect the employees.”
The committee emphasizes that their main demand is an “employment safety net” for all workers. “We can’t throw hundreds of workers to the dogs,” Caspi said. “Without security for workers, there will be no deal.”
A sharp letter from the Minister of Transportation
The political arena is also joining the struggle: Transportation Minister Miri Regev sent a sharp letter in which she indicated the government's intentions to examine and even stop the liquidation process, which many sources believe constitutes "real systemic madness." Regev emphasized that ZIM is a prosperous and profitable company, a strategic asset to the State of Israel in a number of areas, some of which are even confidential, and that the implications of the split and sale must be carefully examined.
A prosperous company
Unlike other cases, where failed companies are designated for liquidation, ZIM, whose parent company is registered in Israel, has paid billions of shekels to the state treasury in taxes over the years and is a significant pillar of the Israeli economy. Furthermore, its importance in times of security emergencies is seen as critical, in ensuring the continuity of supplies and maritime trade to Israel.
A struggle for the future of society and the future of Israeli shipping
The struggle at ZIM is no longer a routine labor dispute. The workers see it as a battle for their future but also for the future of the entire Israeli shipping industry. “We will not give up,” the committee concludes. “ZIM is not just a business company, it is part of the national infrastructure of the State of Israel. Anyone who thinks that it can be dismantled, reduced, and left as an empty skeleton is wrong.”
Currently, the ships are stuck in ports and tensions between workers and management are at their peak. If talks are not opened immediately, the general strike could deepen the crisis and have broad economic consequences.
Where did the Minister of Transportation disappear to... She's on a flight somewhere... Where did the gold stock disappear to... They're still looking for it... A suggestion to company employees - wear black, grow a beard, put a mink hat on your head and you'll receive unlimited budgets.
It is very difficult to hear about the illogical move of selling the Israeli shipping company "Zim", where I worked since 1955.
The Zim company was established for the purpose of bringing refugees and Holocaust survivors to Israel.
"Zim" served the country in times of peace and war. Customers knew they had someone to turn to for reliable service. A profitable company that grew with the country. Its sale to a German company controlled by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which is completely impossible. Laying off employees who give their blood so that the company can succeed, without ensuring their livelihood.
I hope this process will not take place, and the Israeli company ZIM will remain in Israel's hands to ensure security transport when required. Thank you to Sarah Regev for her intervention.
Some Israelis have no problem selling strategic assets to the enemy
They will also sell their mother to shirk responsibility and make money.
I wish you success in your struggle. I regret that I am unable to join you in a just struggle that deserves widespread support from other institutions in our country.