Israel Airports Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftah Ron Tal sharply condemned the surprise strike that threw Ben-Gurion Airport into chaos on Thursday, vowing that those found responsible will face both administrative and legal consequences.
Speaking to 103FM on Friday morning, Ron Tal described the work stoppage as unjustifiable and denounced the conduct behind it as “bullying and intolerable behavior.” His comments came as the airport continued dealing with the aftermath of the disruption, including passengers facing lengthy waits for their luggage.
“I regret the distress and the damage caused to passengers, which is completely unjustifiable. In my eyes, this is bullying and intolerable behavior, and we will examine it in the coming days,” he said. “As soon as we identify who is responsible for this, they will pay the price,” Ron Tal said.
Ron Tal indicated that the response will not be limited to internal disciplinary action, saying the Airports Authority intends to carefully examine what legal measures may also be warranted.
He added: “The steps that will be taken are not only administrative; they are also legal. I do not want to do things in a way that will not be correct.”
At the same time, Ron Tal defended the broader workforce at Ben-Gurion, praising employees for continuing to perform their jobs through demanding circumstances and making clear that his criticism was directed at those responsible for the strike rather than airport workers as a whole.
“Our employees are simply excellent. During the war and today, they work under difficult and complex conditions, and they do not deserve to be directed this way,” he said.
Ron Tal also cautioned against responding to the dispute with unilateral action, arguing that such an approach could ultimately undermine organized labor throughout Israel.
“We do not take unilateral steps; this will harm organized labor in the State of Israel.”
Turning to broader problems within the Airports Authority, Ron Tal acknowledged that significant reforms are needed and said changing an organization that has operated for decades will not happen immediately.
“You do not change Rome in one day. You speak to the solution, not the problem; that is why I am here,” he stated.
Still, he insisted that reform will take place, describing the authority’s existing organizational structure as deeply problematic and saying officials have little choice but to address it.
“Not only is it possible to change, but we will change it, period. The authority has existed for 50 years, and its organizational structure is very problematic. We will find the way because we have no other choice,” he said.
Ron Tal specifically characterized Ben-Gurion Airport’s staffing structure as an “inverted pyramid,” saying the balance between permanent and temporary employees needs to be addressed even if doing so results in confrontation with organized labor.
“It is an inverted pyramid; there are far fewer temporary workers than permanent employees. Management needs to manage, and workers need to work. There will be friction, and perhaps there will be a struggle, but this will change. This is our obligation,” he said.
The Airports Authority chairman also challenged assertions by the workers’ committee that Ben-Gurion is operating with a shortage of approximately 400 baggage handlers, questioning the source and accuracy of that figure.
“Where does this number come from? If you are getting this number from the workers’ committee, I suggest you check it. Even if there is a shortage of workers, it is among manual labor workers. This airport operated yesterday and the day before under conditions that were no less difficult,” Ron Tal said.
He similarly disputed claims that airport employees are required to perform physical labor for 15 hours without interruption, saying their working conditions are governed by existing labor agreements.
“They work 12 hours; this appears in the labor agreements, and there is a break between one plane and another,” he said.
By Friday, Ron Tal said Ben-Gurion had returned to normal operations, with airport officials working through the remaining backlog created by the strike. He said 16 flights had been canceled but would be restored as operations returned to full capacity.
“The situation at the airport has returned to normal operations, and we are closing gaps. There were 16 flights that were canceled, and they will return. The airport is operating at full capacity.”
The fallout from the strike also reached Israel’s political arena. On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Airports Authority workers’ committee chairman Pinchas Idan to be expelled from the Likud Party after Likud denounced “the wild and illegal strike at the airport that harmed the citizens of the country and damaged the economy.”
Idan fired back at Netanyahu on Friday, making clear that he had no intention of voluntarily leaving the party.
“in the Likud before Bibi and I will stay after Bibi,” Idan said, according to KAN News.
He also dismissed the significance of his position within the party apparatus.
“What is a member of the Likud central committee? Nothing,” he added.
Idan then warned that additional airport strikes could occur unless management brings in more workers, arguing that the current staffing levels will be insufficient to handle the upcoming holiday travel period.
“We won’t get through the chagim if there is no hiring,” he said. “It’s a waste of time, lest they say I didn’t say so.”
{Matzav.com}
