An agreement was reached last week allowing for public transportation operations to be fully compensated for any missed work during last month’s war with Iran. The agreement followed the request of Histadrut Transport Workers Union chair Eyal Yadin.
During the war, public transit workers were required to work with great flexibility and constant changes in assignments. Their role is transporting both soldiers and essential workers qualified them as essential workers as well. Yet that very status as essential workers threatened their ability to be compensated for any missed days of work resulting from the war.
The main compensation framework for those who were unable to work during the war failed to cover public transport workers, since it applied only to those who worked no more than one day during the 12-day war with Iran. Many public transit workers worked more than that—leaving them on the hook for any days that they were unable to work or weren’t needed.
For this purpose, a unique compensation framework was required to provide a solution for drivers and other workers in the sector who worked during these days in a partial format.
“This is an important framework that will provide a solution for workers affected during the days of war,” said Uri Metuki, head of the public transportation division in the Histadrut’s transportation workers union. He expressed gratitude toward Minister of Transportation Miri Regev and ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken for their role in the achievement.