Rotem Amfert workers at Ashdod port are preventing the export of phosphates as part of their dispute with Israel Chemicals (ICL) management over ICL’s plans to lay off 127 workers. The sanctions at the Mediterranean port began on Sunday, Jan. 5, and are continuing today. In addition, workers at the company’s production plant in southern Israel prevented non-union workers from entering the plant.
The union has said that it plans to further intensify sanctions following last week’s break down of negotiations with ICL management over a recovery plan. The union charges that ICL has started handing out dismissal notices after the company agreed to freeze plans to lay off workers last month in an attempt to reach an agreement with the union and the Histadrut Labor Federation. Negotiations between the two sides remain deadlocked.
Prior to the resumption of the talks in mid-December, powerful Histadrut chairman Ofer Eini had convinced workers at Dead Sea Works to join the dispute. So far, however, they have stayed clear of taking any action following the announcement last month by ICL management of a restructuring plan.
The change in management’s position followed a lockout at the Rotem Amfert plant in the Negev when initial dismissal notices were handed out to some of the workers. The following day Rotem Amfert management imposed a lock out.
ICL management has said that it must reduce costs at Rotem Amfert. It claims that Morocco, which controls over 50 percent of the global phosphate market, is cutting prices in an attempt to drive rivals out of the market. A spokesman for Rotem Amfert said earlier this week that the company is facing its worst crisis in years due to a sharp drop in phosphate and fertilizer prices that has made the company among the least competitive in the industry. The spokesman added that the layoffs are a painful but necessary measure to enable the company to compete on the international market.