ICL negotiations break down – Alert
Negotiations between Israel Chemicals Ltd. and union representatives broke down late Wednesday. The head of the Dead Sea Bromine Compounds union Avner Ben Senior charged that the talks failed when management insisted on group layoffs.
The talks began yesterday after mediation efforts by Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom. Union officials said that following the breakdown of the talks sanctions are expected to be expanded and possibly include other subsidiaries at ICL. Dead Sea Bromine Compounds has been on strike for over a month and Dead Sea Works for nearly two weeks.
Histadrut Labor Federation chairman Avi Nissenkorn today called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is also serving as acting finance minister to make use of the state’s ‘golden share’ in ICL to prevent the planned layoffs by management.
ICL management said in response that it was surprised to learn from the media that the union had broken off the talks.