On Thursday, the Association of Transportation Committees in the "Power for Workers" organization will suspend public transportation between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM at Superbus, Egged Transportation (Electra Afikim Transportation) and Dan in the south.
Drivers are protesting the companies' refusal to open negotiations to improve the conditions of their hourly wage and compare it to the average wage in the economy.
Earlier today (Monday), committee representatives attended a meeting with Transport Minister Merav Michaeli.
According to committee representatives, "the meeting yielded nothing."
Minister Merav Michaeli., Photo: Ritvo Photography
Harun Shubash, chairman of the workers' committee at Superbus, said: "The drivers are saying enough today for the war for survival!
We may not be required to work 270 hours a month, at least 10 hours every day on the road, dealing with crowded lines due to driver shortages and passenger violence, just to barely finish the month.
We will fight as much as it takes and call on drivers in other companies to join us.
Only in this way will we improve the disgraceful employment conditions of the drivers. "
Bus drivers' protest against employment conditions,
Mazal Ofir, chairman of the workers' committee in Dan in the south, said: "We have heard many warm words from the Minister of Transportation, but unfortunately we have no reference to the existing hardships of the drivers, and the huge shortage of about 4,000 drivers.
We have heard a lot about recruiting new drivers, who are inexperienced, but nothing about retaining existing professional drivers who are leaving the profession due to low wages and harsh employment conditions.
We call on Sarah to recalculate the route and formulate the public transportation budget with the drivers and not over their heads. "
List of cities where the strike will take place:
Haifa - all matron lines, Netanya, Afula, Tiberias Yokneam, Beit She'an, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Netivot, Sderot, Gaza Envelope settlements, Ma'ale Adumim, Mevaseret Zion, Dalit al-Carmel, Isfiya, Megiddo Regional Council.
Jerusalem: Lines 2, 38, 82, 83, 136, 882. Most of the Jerusalem Envelope lines to the localities: Givat Zeev, Mevaseret, Gush Etzion, Kiryat Arba, Binyamin Regional Council.
Beer Sheva - lines from Ashkelon.