Israeli Lifeguard Association declares go-slow
Sanctions announced as part of association's fight for better wages, working conditions; include closing all lifeguard stations at noon
The Israeli Lifeguard Association (ILA) announced Monday that it members would be staging a go-slow on all Israeli beaches, starting on Tuesday.
The go-slow is part of the ILA's fight for better wages and working conditions for Israeli lifeguards and it may escalate to a full-blown strike.
As part of the go-slow, all lifeguard stations will be closed at 2 pm – instead of at 7 pm. The lifeguards' stations are to be manned by each local municipality's beach inspectors, who are expected to try and prevent people from going into the water in the absence of a professional lifeguard on the beach.
Israeli authorities employ some 360 lifeguards, who are stationed on 120 beaches.
Arnon Bar-David, head of the Israeli Union of Clerks, Administrative Public Service Employees (UCAPSE) said that his union hopes "the National Union of Local Authorities does not disregard its responsibility for human lives during the go-slow."
National Union of Local Authorities called the sanctions "irresponsible," adding that during its negotiations with the ILA, it offered lifeguards a 50% pay raise but they declined.
