Corona virus threat: 5,000 employees of Israel's national airline are on leave today without pay

Approximately 5,000 employees of Israel's national airline are on leave today without pay after the workers' union withdrew its opposition to the move. At the same time, progress has been made in the relations between the committee and management, and talks have been held between the parties in recent days. The rock of contention is the dismissal of 600 permanent employees as included in the recovery plan that El Al submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Despite El Al's publications 10 days ago regarding the removal of workers from the USSR, nothing was actually done due to the opposition of the committee.
At a meeting of the Treasury with the Treasury last night, the Treasury representatives unequivocally made it clear that additional streamlining measures must be taken as a condition for a loan. During the meeting, the committee presented its own streamlining plan, which includes a waiver of about 1,400 employees but no layoffs from permanent employees.
El Al has announced to employees on leave without pay that most of their rights will be retained, meaning that management will continue to set aside employees for a pension fund, health insurance and continued car expenses for eligible employees. Also, as is customary with regard to the IAA, a statement was issued: "We allow employees to work in private work during the IAA without the need for a permit from management. As commercial demand improves, we would be happy to ask you to return to work before the IAI ends. If there is no improvement in commercial activity at the end of the ISA, there is no need to extend the IDF and inform you in a timely manner. The steps are made with no choice in the face of an impossible reality forced upon us. Unfortunately, after considering all the possible alternatives, including in discussions with the workers' committee, we are in a situation where there is no escape from the expense of many of the company's employees.
Treasury has demanded from Mal about $ 200 million in annual savings to be achieved in part by layoffs and wage cuts. The Treasury also made it clear that the loan would not be given by the government but through a bank that would approve the feasibility of its recovery plan and guarantee its repayment.