Israel Chemicals Ltd. management is planning a lock out at Dead Sea Works due to ongoing sanctions by the company’s workers. The latest round of sanctions were imposed in the past few weeks and ICL says they have already caused significant damage.
ICL management has requested permission from Israel’s Economics Ministry for the lock out and is waiting for a final approval before going ahead with the plan to shut down the plant for an indefinite period of time in response to the workers’ sanctions.
The sanctions have the backing of the Dead Sea Works’ union as well as the Histadrut Labor Federation. The sanctions have prevented the shipment of potash from the Sdom plant as well as affecting maintenance of equipment.
The sanctions were imposed by the union following a demand by management to lay off 150 workers at Dead Sea Works, approximately 10 percent of the subsidiary’s manpower. ICL has accused the union of dragging its feet in the negotiations to implement the reorganization plan