Arab safety inspectors working in Israel Railways who were laid off step up the fight against their former employers. The Tel Aviv Labor Court issued Wednesday an interim injunction against Israel Railways not to lay off Arab workers for not serving in the military.
The court also ruled that Israel Railways' new criteria for hiring workers be altered to no longer include military service as a requirement for getting a job with the organization. This comes after Israel Railways recently changed their hiring requirements some six months ago.
Justice Ahuva Etzion's decision to issue an interim injunction forbidding the layoff of the employees comes a half a year after 43 Arab safety inspectors initiated a legal battle against Israel Railways after they were fired from their jobs. The safety inspectors were employed by a security company contracted by Israel Railways.
The injunction was issued in response to a petition made by the 43 employees after they were fired from their positions on the grounds that the company decided no longer to employ people who have not served in the military.
The court issued a preliminary injunction, and four months later, Israel Railways changed its employment requirements. The new requirements were continual employment of at least 18 months, experience in shift work, and experience in an organization with a hierarchical structure.
The Arab workers, with the assistance of MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al ),protested the new criteria as well, claiming that they are misleading. They petitioned the court once again.
The court ruled, "Because it has not yet been proven that the new criteria are warranted for the nature of the position, we found that there is concern for discrimination against candidates who have not served in the military."
In response to the ruling, MK Tibi said, "Israel Railways behaved in fact like Yisrael Beiteinu Railways. However, the court served justice, and this is a sweet victory over discrimination."
Tibi emphasized, "The court ruled today that the requirement (to do) national service is a discriminatory criteria. I appreciate the workers who did not give in to the train's threats. The ruling made today is a principled and important ruling."
Attorney Tawfiq Tibi, the Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, and the Legal Clinic for Human Rights in Tel Aviv, who represented to workers, expressed their satisfaction with the court's decision.
"We are glad the workers will not be laid off. However, we will continue our struggle until a final decision is made. We will convince the court that any use of military service as a job requirement, whether directly or indirectly, amount to discrimination," said Attn. Sawsan Zaher from Adalah.