Israel Chemicals Ltd. workers closed down four plants in southern Israel as part of a protest against management plans to implement a reorganization plan. They are demanding that management hold talks with them about planned changes. The workers are threatening to intensify their sanctions in the coming days. The four plants that shut down for two hours were Rotem Amfert, Dead Sea Bromine, Dead Sea Periclase, and Dead Sea Magnesium.Workers at a fifth subsidiary, Mifalei Tovala, shut down operations for the whole day. Mifalei Tovala is involved in transporting production to the ports for export.
Last week the unions at six ICL subsidiaries established a joint committee to fight management plans to streamline the company. The unions charge that the plans include layoffs. The plan was announced in August by ICL CEO and President Stefan Borgas and includes efficiencies that would lead to a savings of $400 million over three years.
In a letter to Borgas the unions state that the plan is in breach of ICL’s labor contracts. They are also demanding immediate talks with the union representatives on the consequences of the proposed plan. The letter also stated that unless management agreed to talks they would ask the Histadrut Labor Federation to declare a labor dispute. The union at Dead Sea Works was not involved in action.
ICL management said that that in view of the challenging environment facing the company management is examining ways to improve competitiveness and this would be done in a full transparent fashion with the knowledge of the unions.