19 February, 2015Israel Chemicals (ICL) has made a number of unilateral decisions that will lead to 140 layoffs at the group's Bromine Compounds subsidiary. In response IndustriALL affiliate Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) has been on strike for over two weeks.
Histadrut argues that there are ways to solve this crisis and make the company more efficient without resorting to mass layoffs. But for this the company must enter into meaningful dialogue with the workers’ committee and the workforce in order to find creative solutions that will save the livelihood of hundreds of families.
I call on Israel Chemicals (ICL) to negotiate in good faith with the employees' committee and the employees themselves to find creative ways of keeping on running the company efficiently and profitably while at the same time keeping the entire workforce intact,
said Jyrki Raina, IndustriALL General Secretary in a letter to the company.
ICL must cease any unilateral measures that may undermine workers’ fundamental rights, IndustriALL Global Union, together with its affiliated trade unions throughout the world, stands firm in solidarity with Histadrut and fully supports its industrial action.