Someday after a shock strike at Ben-Gurion Airport triggered widespread disruption, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftah Ron Tal, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority, criticized the transfer Friday morning on 103FM and mentioned these accountable would face penalties.
Ron Tal described the strike as “bullying and insupportable habits,” as experiences indicated that disruptions on the airport have been persevering with, with passengers nonetheless ready prolonged intervals to obtain their baggage.
“I remorse the misery and the injury triggered to passengers, which is totally unjustifiable. In my eyes, that is bullying and insupportable habits, and we’ll look at it within the coming days,” he mentioned. “As quickly as we determine who’s chargeable for this, they’ll pay the value,” Ron Tal mentioned.
He added: “The steps that might be taken usually are not solely administrative; they’re additionally authorized. I don’t wish to do issues in a manner that won’t be appropriate.”
Nonetheless, Ron Tal defended airport staff, saying that they had continued working below tough circumstances.
‘Our staff work below tough and sophisticated circumstances’
“Our staff are merely wonderful. Throughout the conflict and at this time, they work below tough and sophisticated circumstances, and they don’t need to be directed this fashion,” he mentioned.
He later added: “We don’t take unilateral steps; it will hurt organized labor within the State of Israel.”
Concerning potential reforms on the airport authority, Ron Tal mentioned modifications would require time however have been mandatory.
“You don’t change Rome in at some point. You converse to the answer, not the issue; that’s the reason I’m right here,” he said.
“Not solely is it potential to vary, however we’ll change it, interval. The authority has existed for 50 years, and its organizational construction may be very problematic. We are going to discover the best way as a result of we have now no different selection,” he mentioned.
Structural issues at Ben-Gurion
Ron Tal additionally pointed to what he described as structural issues at Ben-Gurion Airport.
“It’s an inverted pyramid; there are far fewer short-term employees than everlasting staff. Administration must handle, and employees must work. There might be friction, and maybe there might be a wrestle, however it will change. That is our obligation,” he mentioned.
He rejected claims by the employees’ committee that the airport is at the moment quick 400 baggage handlers.
“The place does this quantity come from? In case you are getting this quantity from the employees’ committee, I counsel you verify it. Even when there’s a scarcity of employees, it’s amongst handbook labor employees. This airport operated yesterday and the day earlier than below circumstances that have been no more easy,” Ron Tal mentioned.
He additionally dismissed claims that airport employees should carry out bodily labor for 15 consecutive hours.
“They work 12 hours; this seems within the labor agreements, and there’s a break between one aircraft and one other,” he mentioned.
Addressing the airport’s present operations, Ron Tal mentioned regular exercise had resumed and that officers have been working to resolve remaining delays.
“The state of affairs on the airport has returned to regular operations, and we’re closing gaps. There have been 16 flights that have been canceled, and they’re going to return. The airport is working at full capability.”
