(Haipo) – The Union of Transportation Committees for Workers will on Thursday (4.6.26) shut down bus transportation by Superbus and Electra Afikim 2021 for about three hours, from the start of service at around 5:00 AM until 8:00 AM. Among the lines that will be shut down: the metro lines in Haifa, about a third of the urban lines in Jerusalem, and lines in other cities. The drivers are protesting the refusal to compensate them for the reduction in their wages during Operation "The Roar of the Lion."
Protest over non-payment of full wages during the war
The strike stems from the company managements' refusal to pay drivers their full wages for the period of Operation "Roar of the Lion," including full social rights and a risk bonus for wartime. According to the union, the companies ordered the drivers to make up the shortfall by using their vacation days and entering into negative accrual. The companies, for their part, claimed that the required funding from the Ministry of Transportation had not been transferred to them. However, in a discussion held in the Economy Committee on May 10, 2026, initiated by MK Naama Lazimi, representatives of the Ministry of Transportation claimed that advances constituting the vast majority of the intended compensation amount had already been transferred to the companies on April 1, 2026, and they were even given cash flow relief such as not collecting fines. The committee's chairman, MK David Bitan, demanded that the company representatives immediately transfer the money to pay the workers' wages and stop treating them as "hostages" for the purpose of their demands against the Ministry of Transportation.
Demand for additional risk and criticism of companies' attitude towards drivers
In addition to paying full wages, the union demanded that drivers be paid a risk bonus for life-threatening work without a protected space during the war, similar to risk bonuses included in previous outlines that the Workers' Force formulated against the Superbus company in Operation "Am Kalavi" and against "Dan in the South" at the beginning of the "Iron Swords" war. According to the union, according to the companies' and the Ministry of Transportation's proposal, drivers who stayed home during the war are expected to receive more than drivers who came to work and put themselves at risk. Micha Vaknin, chairman of the Superbus workers' committee and chairman of the Workers' Force's representative assembly, said: "Drivers left their families and went out to fulfill their public duties without asking questions. We transported passengers under missile attacks, and we did so with mission and pride. Our colleagues were injured while serving the public. It is not possible that we have to fight to receive basic rights!"
Warning of another strike and list of cities on strike
Itai Cohen, head of the Workers' Transportation Force, said: "We do not accept that every war requires us to return to the starting point. We do not accept that the companies receive money for the workers and it is not passed on to the workers. We have repeatedly called on the companies and the Ministry of Transportation to come to their senses, pay the missing wages, and settle the other open issues with us. We have shown maximum restraint, but they ignore it. Then they wonder why drivers are leaving." The union warned that without a change in the management's position, another strike is expected on Thursday, June 11.6, between 12:00 and 16:00. The cities that will participate in the strike on behalf of Superbus: Jerusalem, Haifa (Matronit), Afula, Tiberias, Yokneam, Beit Shean, Migdal HaEmek, Usfiya and Dalit El-Carmel. On behalf of Electra Afikim 2021: Jerusalem, Ma'ale Adumim, Kiryat Arba, Gush Etzion settlements and Binyamin settlements.
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Again, empty threats? It's hard to count how many times they've threatened and canceled.
You can definitely and respectfully settle for Egged, which can provide good and reliable service!! Instead of the matron.