The Histadrut's Transportation Workers' Union and the management of El Al signed an agreement last week which promised financial support for the company's workers under the age of 45 who will soon stop receiving unemployment benefits. The agreement will be jointly funded by the Histadrut. Despite the resumption of most air travel in recent months, El Al is still navigating an internal crisis, with around 2,225 workers still furloughed.
The agreement was signed against the backdrop of two events: El Al extending their furloughed workers until the end of July, and the recent decision from Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman not to extend the entitlements and unemployment benefits granted due to the pandemic for all workers on furlough under the age of 45.
The agreement was signed by Avi Edri, chairman of the Histadrut's Transportation Workers' Union, and El Al's VP of Human Resources and Managing Director, Yehudit Grisero.
"A special thank you must be given to the chairman of the Histadrut, Arnon Bar-David, for repeatedly stepping up to help save El Al. And all due respect to the workers' unions at El Al who took care of their furloughed co-workers. We all hope that life will return to normal soon, and we will be able to see the aviation industry return to work," said Edri at the signing of the agreement.
The workers are also supposed to receive additional assistance grants from the state, which has pledged to come up with a solution for workers in the aviation and tourism industries, but this solution has yet to be legislated and its nature is still unclear.
