The Histadrut labor federation declared an industry-wide labor dispute in the aviation sector on Wednesday, protesting plans to establish a local operating base for Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air in Israel.
The union said the move was being advanced without consultation or coordination with workers or their representatives and warned it could harm job security and the stability of the sector.
The dispute applies to El Al, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa, as well as the Airports Authority, which operates Ben Gurion Airport, Ramon Airport, Haifa Airport and the smaller airfields in Herzliya and Rosh Pina. More than 11,000 workers are covered by the declaration.
Under labor regulations, unions may begin taking industrial action two weeks after declaring a dispute.
Earlier this week, senior Histadrut officials, union leaders and aviation industry executives held a special meeting to discuss possible steps. The federation said any action would be taken with “full national responsibility” and with the intention of minimizing harm to the public.
Union officials raised professional concerns about the decision to allow a foreign carrier to establish a base at Ben Gurion Airport, saying it was made without comprehensive review and despite reservations from senior figures in the industry, including officials at the Transportation Ministry. They warned of potential economic and security implications.
Worker representatives said they support genuine competition and efforts to reduce the cost of living but oppose what they described as a unilateral move that grants an unfair advantage to a foreign operator at the expense of local carriers and employees.
They also said the decision disregards the role aviation workers played during the coronavirus pandemic and periods of rocket fire, when airlines continued operating to keep the country’s skies open.
Acting Histadrut Chairman Roy Yaakov said that establishing a base for a foreign operator without a thorough systemic review “could harm not only the job security of workers but also the stability of the aviation sector and national interests.”
Ayal Yadin, head of the Transport and Seaports Workers Union, said the federation supports competition but opposes what he called an uneven playing field that disadvantages domestic airlines and their employees.