Israeli court defers ruling on hearing of progress to end dock strike

 

 

The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce petitioned the National Labour Court to end the four-day strike, telling the court that it would cost the economy ILS400 million (US$113 million). 

 

 

The court postponed the hearing after the Histadrut union said progress had been made, at which point the court ordered documents be produced the next day detailing progress. 

 

 

The 2,500 dockers at Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat began the strike on January 3 when talks collapsed. Wages for dockers hired after February 2005 average US$3,779 a month. That compares with a national average monthly wage of $2,660. (LA-Long Beach dockers get $8,080 a month.) 

 

 

Exports make up almost half of Israel's GDP. The economy expanded 4.5 per cent last year, driven in part by a 12.6 per cent increase in exports of goods and services. 

(Source:www.schednet.com)