Timing is everything.
Just as the summer tourism season heads into high gear — and an impending Taglit Birthright tour is soon to arrive — baggage handlers began to strike Wednesday morning at Ben Gurion International Airport.
More than 10 flights were delayed as Israel Airport Authority as workers refused to load and unload aircraft at the airport.
The job action affected flights on El Al, Air Europa and Turkish Airlines.
The IAA employees’ union declared the strike earlier this week in response to what they said was a staffing shortage – not labor sanctions.
“Unfortunately, the management did not prepare in advance to take on more manpower before the rise in passenger numbers in the summer months,” said a statement from the IAA workers’ committee.
“We call on the management to solve the manpower shortage problem immediately and prevent passengers being harmed.”
Night shift workers apparently completed their quota of aircraft and refused to continue loading and unloading baggage, according to the Globes business news service.
“About ten aircraft are waiting to be dealt with,” the IAA said. “The management, which is aware of the inconvenience to the traveling public, is doing all it can to restore labor relations to normal.”
