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Airport chaos and staffing
Ben Gurion Airport faced fresh disruption threats after the Airports Authority workers’ union warned of an “acute” staffing shortage across key departments ahead of the busy holiday travel period.
“between 400 and 500 additional workers are currently needed”
The union said it was preparing to turn to the labor court as the holiday period approaches, and it published an updated picture of shortages based on requests from department managers for additional personnel and staffing needs already known to Airports Authority management.
In the union’s figures, between 400 and 500 additional workers are currently needed across the authority’s divisions to meet operational demands and provide adequate passenger service, while service and operations employees responsible for day-to-day functioning are working between 220 and 260 hours a month.
The union said the “fact that we reached the busy summer months with such a severe shortage is the result of prolonged failure,” and it warned that without “deep, immediate and urgent treatment” it would not be possible to provide passengers with the service they deserve.
The warning raised the prospect of further disruption at Ben Gurion after a recent labor dispute caused widespread delays and turmoil for passengers during one of the busiest periods of the summer.
Regev, Rayten, and Golan
Democrats MK Efrat Rayten sharply criticized Transportation Minister Miri Regev over the chaos at Ben-Gurion Airport amid a workers’ protest, while also defending party chairman Yair Golan over his comments on Israel’s strike in Syria.
In an interview with 103FM hosts Roni Bar-On and Maya Ziv-Wolf, Rayten said, "Arrogance, detachment and stupidity. Indifference toward citizens," describing her own trip through traffic jams to the western Negev and linking it to what she said was chaos at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Rayten also argued that the regional picture should raise concern given the approaching election, saying, "This is not normal. There is another alliance that we are also not part of: Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Pakistan."
She said it was “not right to look at this incident separately from the distrust that most citizens of the State of Israel and I feel toward Netanyahu,” adding, “He failed miserably.”
Despite the dispute, Rayten said she wants Einav Zangauker to become involved in the party, saying, "I want her now. I wouldn't wait until October 28."
Netanyahu moves against Idan
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed a petition with the Likud Party Court on Friday advancing his effort to expel union chief Pinhas Idan after Netanyahu accused Idan of intentional disruptions to Israel’s main international gateway on Thursday.
“Netanyahu petitions Likud to oust airport union chief from party over 'sabotage'”
Idan denied the allegations and said the disruptions were caused by a severe manpower shortage, while the dispute over responsibility for the chaos continued as operations began to normalize.
In a separate account, Netanyahu’s request to remove Idan from Likud was submitted by Netanyahu’s lawyer, Eilan Bumbach, and the request stated that Eidán had not legally announced a labor dispute and chose the timing of the strike to harm Netanyahu, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and the Likud party.
The political fallout also included a Likud move to expel Nahhas Aidan from the party, with the Likud statement saying the decision was made “in the wake of the wild and illegal strike at the airport, which harmed the citizens of the state and caused damage to the economy.”
Meanwhile, Sharon Kadmi, the Director General of the Airports Authority, accused the Employees Committee of taking “unilateral and brutal steps” and said, “We regret what happened today at Ben Gurion Airport, and this is unacceptable to us.”