The Histradrut labor federation announced an official labor dispute in the aviation industry on Wednesday, citing a plan by the Transport Ministry to establish a base of operations for the Hungarian airline Wizz Air.
According to the Histadrut, allowing Wizz Air to operate in the country would affect airport workers' working conditions, wages, and rights, including employment security.
In a discussion earlier this week between Histadrut and aviation industry officials, Histadrut raised professional concerns about the decision, stating that it was made without extensive preparatory work and despite strong reservations from senior members of both the aviation industry and the Transportation Ministry.
The official Histadrut statement called the decision "throwing sand in the eyes of the public," the worker representatives said.
They also labeled the decision disrespectful to the workers, mentioning the COVID pandemic and missile attacks as examples of difficult conditions they worked through to assist the Israeli public.
"In the world of labor relations, there is no such thing as unilateral decisions, including in the aviation industry, which requires broad national coordination," Deputy Chairman of the Histadrut, Roy Yaakov, said.
"Establishing a base for a foreign operator in Israel without an in-depth systemic review and without addressing the potential consequences will harm not only the employment security of the workers, but also the stability of the industry and the national interests of the State of Israel. The Histadrut will use all the tools at its disposal to stop the harm to workers and the public interest."
"We are in favor of competition, but what they are trying to do here is not fair competition, but a unilateral move that gives an unreasonable advantage to a foreign operator at the expense of workers, Israeli companies, and the national interest," added Chairman of the Transportation and Seaport Workers' Union, Attorney Eyal Yadin.
"In a sensitive industry like aviation, it is impossible to make decisions that undermine the operational and security stability of the state. We will insist that any change be made in cooperation, with professional planning, and in protecting the workers who are the backbone of the industry."
Regev attacks labor dispute announcement as 'shaming campaign'
Transportation Minister Miri Regev denounced the Histadrut's arguments, calling its actions a "shaming campaign" against her, and saying that "This is what happens when you move the cheese - or rather, the cream - of the controlling tycoons."
"In recent years, we have become unwilling hostages of the Israeli airlines, and they have exploited us in an outrageous manner," she wrote in a post on X/Twitter. She also stated that the goal of the “Aviation Justice” reform (the plan to establish Wizz Air's base in Israel) was to increase competition, lower airfare, improve service, and expand the range of flight destinations.
"I said it, and I stand behind my words: the freedom of movement of Israeli citizens also depends on competitive airfares," she said. "Bringing Wizz Air and similar companies to Israel is a significant piece of good news for the citizens of the country on every scale."
Regev also accused Israeli airlines of exploiting the public during the Israel-Hamas War, and of being rescued by the state during the COVID pandemic.
The labor dispute affects over 11,000 employees of El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa, as well as the Airports Authority, which operates Ben-Gurion Airport, Ilan and Asaf Ramon Airport, the Haifa airports, and the landing sites in Herzliya and Rosh Pina.