Drivers from the Superbus Company on Sunday morning 24 Kislev observed a four-hour strike in protest over management’s refusal to recognize their new labor union. Hundreds of the company’s drivers have joined the “Power to the Worker” (כוח לעובדים) union, but explain the company is not willing to recognize the new union.

Workers demand management recognize the new workers’ union and enter into direct talks towards improved working conditions and benefits for the company’s hundreds of drivers.

Workers explain they were hired under substandard salary and benefits for the industry and they are unwilling to continue under the present arrangement.

Superbus management explains the situation is not exactly what is being explained by drivers, but the strike if the result of a power battle between two unions, both claiming to represent drivers. Management insists that the salary and benefits package received by its drivers are among the best in the industry today and drivers are scheduled to receive a 20% salary increase in January 2016, after which they will be earning NIS 39 an hour. Management tells the media that in light of this it does not understand why the drivers walked off the job on Sunday morning, leaving so many commuters stranded.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)