Israel Post Company Postal Employees Strike

Severe postal service disruptions are expected as Israel Postal Company employees went on strike last Monday 25th.

There was no mail distribution in most areas of the country, and income tax, V.A.T., National Insurance Institute payments and other bills couldn’t be processed; as wells as vehicle ownership transfers and diplomatic post.

Reuven Karazi, chairman of the postal service’s national workers’ committee, said the workers are protesting the government’s refusal to delay opening the market to competition, scheduled for July 2.

Employees are asking that the company, currently a monopoly, be allowed flexibility in setting prices – such as reducing bulk mail rates – before free competition is allowed. Otherwise, the Israel Postal Company will be uncompetitive, and this will result in either layoffs or bankruptcy, Karazi said.