Egged Drivers Threaten Bus Strike Tuesday

Israelis face another bus strike on Tuesday, if Egged, the government and the Histadrut cannot reach agreement on a long-term financial framework before that, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Histradrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn warned on Sunday night that if the Transportation and Finance ministries don’t end their “foot-dragging” over the amount the state will subsidize Egged operations, including drivers’ salaries in future years, the drivers will walk out at 5 a.m. Tuesday.

“For more than a year-and-a-half, time after time, I warned about the deepening crisis, but the Transportation and Finance ministries took advantage of the responsible behavior of the Histadrut and the workers, and continued to dry up Egged,” Nissenkorn said.

At stake is more than drivers’ pay, he said: “Those who have already paid for this conduct are the drivers, but on the table there is a much higher price. The Transportation and Finance ministries are taking a risk that could bring down Egged, while causing a fatal blow to the transportation industry in Israel.”