Ahead of the launch of the first light rail line in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area last weekend, the Histadrut, workers' representatives and management signed the first collective agreement at Tevel Metro, which operates the line.
The signing was held at the headquarters of the Histadrut and was attended by Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut’s Transportation Workers’ Union Eyal Yadin, chairman of Egged (Tevel Metro's parent company) Avi Friedman, the CEO of Tevel Metro and members of the Tevel Workers’ Union’s executive committee.
The agreement, which extends until the end of 2024, improves the working conditions of the company's 280 employees, including drivers, workers in the operational control center (OCCs), station managers, inspectors, maintenance workers, customer service representatives, team leaders and others. The agreement includes an increase in the base salary in all positions and also provides for bonuses for employee training and for working overtime and night shifts, as well as incentive pay of up to 1,092 shekels ($289) per month, depending on the position. The agreement also includes a perseverance and safety grant of 13,000 shekels ($3441) for drivers who meet the conditions over the term of the agreement.
In addition, the agreement provides an employment safety net for workers (guaranteed full-time pay even if an employee’s hours do not reach the threshold for full-time status), and improvement in employment conditions: a continuing education fund, transportation service (during hours when there is no public transportation), a clothing allowance and holiday bonuses. Moreover, for the first time in the transportation industry, the company will fund annual membership fees for workers in a professional association of the Transportation Workers’ Union, which is currently being established.
In addition, a dialogue mechanism was agreed upon to implement the agreement, resolve disagreements, and strengthen collective relations.
The Red Line, which opened last Friday, connects five cities in Gush Dan (the Hebrew name for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area): Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv-Yafo and Bat Yam. The line has 34 stations, of which 10 are underground. Tevel Metro, the operator of the line, is a joint subsidiary of the Egged Group.
Histadrut Chairman, Arnon Bar-David: "I, like millions of Israelis, am excited about the operation of the light rail, which will be a boon for Gush Dan. Operating such a complex public transportation system, which will serve more than 200,000 passengers a day, requires professional and dedicated employees. The collective agreement we signed gives light rail workers an economic and employment safety net to perform their duties in the best possible way. I congratulate the Transportation Workers' Union, the workers and the management of Tevel Metro on reaching this groundbreaking agreement."
Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Miri Regev: "I welcome the signing of the first collective bargaining agreement with the employees of Tevel Metro – the operator of the first line of the Gush Dan Light Rail. Improving the conditions and wages of public transportation drivers is one of the goals I set when I took office, as part of encouraging the use of public transportation. Alongside all the advanced technologies we implement in all components of infrastructure and vehicles, the human component is the most important and significant. We want to attract quality and professional drivers, with a strong work ethic, responsibility and service culture, and for this we must offer them fair wages and conditions, a suitable place to rest and refresh themselves between trips, and a security envelope to maintain their safety and public order. The collective agreement with Tevel Metro workers is an important milestone, and I am sure that other operators will follow suit."
Chairman of the Transportation Workers' Union of the Histadrut, Eyal Yadin: "The entire country is excited about the opening of the light rail and after long and intensive negotiations, I welcome the finished agreement, the first of its kind at Tevel Metro – the light rail. This agreement improves the employment conditions of all company workers in a wide range of economic and employment issues. An agreement that significantly strengthens the industry and its workers, and I hope that other companies will follow suit. We will continue to push for better wages and employment conditions on public transportation, as we have done in all our unionized companies."
Moshe Ben-Zaken, Director General of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety: "The accelerated development of public transportation in Israel, the addition of lines and increased frequency has increased the need to recruit many professional drivers for public transportation. In accordance with the policy of the Minister of Transportation, we are currently working to recruit new drivers and retain existing ones, and are constantly striving to improve their conditions and wages. The agreement signed today sets a new standard of payment and job security, and I hope that it will serve as an example for the entire industry and that we will soon see similar agreements with other companies."
Tevel Metro CEO, Amiram Ohayon: "Tevel, part of the Egged Group, one of the largest employers in the Israeli economy, sees great importance in the company's human capital, which is a critical factor in providing good and safe service to the company's customers. Tevel's professional and dedicated workers, including drivers and OCCs as well as station managers, operators and maintenance workers – are the key to the success of the most complex and expensive project ever undertaken in Israel. We are ready for the opening of the line and are eagerly waiting for the hundreds of thousands of passengers who will enjoy a new travel experience on public transportation in Israel."
Statement from representatives of the Tevel Workers’ Union: "This is a historic moment for us. We are pleased that after a process of dialogue and cooperation, we were able to reach agreements that take care of Tevel Metro workers. Together we reached a groundbreaking agreement in public transportation, a good agreement for all sectors of society, which improves working conditions and wages significantly. We thank the Histadrut representatives: Head of the National Division of the Transportation Workers’ Union, Amit Hillel, Deputy Chairman of the Trade Union Division, Uri Fleischman, and Transportation Workers’ Union Chairman Eyal Yadin for conducting honest and substantive negotiations that put the workers at the center. We wish the company's workers much success and fruitful work."
The negotiations to formulate the agreement were conducted on behalf of the Histadrut by the Chairman of the Transportation Workers' Union, Eyal Yadin, Deputy Chairman of the Trade Union Division, Uri Fleischman, Legal Advisor to the Transportation Workers’ Union, Natalie Shukowitzky of Elad Morag Law Office, Amiram Ohayon, Michael Koschev of the Economy and Policy Division, and members of the executive committee of the Tevel Metro Workers’ Union, including Yossi Shaul, Moshe Katzav, Ido Aniya and Tamir Brauner.
The company's management was represented by CEO Amiram Ohayon, Vice President of Human Resources Michal Kakuzin, Avi Nissenkorn and Iris Vardi, and Orna Sher and Daniel Kochavi of the N. Feinberg & Co. Law Firm.
This article was translated from Hebrew by Benji Sharp.
