Following the strike announced by Israel’s General Labour Federation due to the approval of the ‘Open Skies’ agreement with the EU, El Al has cancelled all flights “until further notice”.
Workers at El Al, Arkia, and Israir airlines began an ‘open-ended’ strike yesterday, with the Histadrut labour union supporting them. The unions are protesting against the Open Skies policy agreed with the European Union that will allow more foreign carriers to fly into Israel, and more Israeli flights into the EU. Despite the protests, Government ministers approved the agreement, with 19 voting in favour and three against.
The governments say the move will improve competition and lower travel costs to and within Israel, but the unions say it also will cost Israeli jobs. The union said: “Israeli citizens will not support a deal that will sacrifice the incomes of thousands of families just to please foreign carriers.”
