Haifa Chemicals management has warned that it will be forced to put all of its workers on forced leave due to a shortage of potash. The company said that it would do so at the end of the week unless supplies reach its two plants in Mishor Rotem and Haifa. A Haifa spokesman said that both plants are continuing production but at a reduced rate. He stressed that so far sales have not been impacted due to inventories.
Haifa Chemicals which produces potassium nitrate is totally dependent on Israel Chemicals Ltd.’s subsidiary Dead Sea Works for supplies. Workers at Dead Sea Works have been imposing sanctions which have included the prevention of potash leaving the Sdom plant as part of a protest against ICL management’s plans to lay off 150 workers at the subsidiary.
Haifa Chemicals workers held a protest against the planned shutdown of the plants in an attempt to get potash shipments resumed. The workers charge that shipments of potash to other ICL subsidiaries have not been affected. A union leader at Dead Sea Works said shipments to Haifa Chemicals were continuing on a limited basis. Haifa Chemicals claims that the situation is costing it millions of dollars.
Haifa Chemicals management has also requested that Israel’s Anti-Trust Commissioner David Gilo take action and instruct ICL to supply the necessary raw materials and check into its alleged use of its monopolistic powers at the expense of Haifa Chemicals.