City debts hinder firemen

Three Arab cities owe a combined total of NIS 4.75 million to the Sharon area firefighters' union.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
Three Arab cities owe a combined total of NIS 4.75 million to the Sharon area firefighters' union, while three other cities owe a further NIS 750,000, reports the Hebrew weekly Yediot Hasharon. And the union is struggling to provide basic services as a result, with the Kfar Saba fire station in particular suffering from neglected premises, a lack of manpower and old fire-fighting vehicles. According to the report, firemen at the Kfar Saba station went on strike several months ago, saying they even lacked appropriate clothing to wear when fighting fires. The industrial action was called off when the union agreed to several improvements at the station. The report said the union is struggling to function because of its lack of funds, with the city of Taiba owing it NIS 2.5 million, the city of Tira owing NIS 1.5 million and the city of Kalansuwa owing NIS 750,000. The cities of Kfar Saba, Ra'anana and Hod Hasharon together owe a further NIS 750,000. A spokesman said the firefighters' union was working with the Interior Ministry to find a way to make the cities pay their dues, but added that Kfar Saba's debt was already being settled.