El Al reaches deal with pilots, ending labor dispute — union

The Histadrut labor federation says the El Al airline has reached an agreement with pilots over working conditions, ending a two-week labor dispute.

The dispute led to the cancellation of some 15 flights and caused serious delays for the flag carrier’s passengers across the globe. The company says the row was triggered by a management decision to end a practice that allowed pilots not to have to work on a return flight, and instead travel back to Israel in business class.

The deal is expected to be inked today, the Histadrut says.

Under the agreement, pilots will get a 7.35 percent raise and a pledge that management would no longer charter planes from foreign companies, as it did during the dispute.

“This agreement will put an end to the crisis, and management and employees will cooperate to make the company operate in a completely normal way,” Histadrut chief Avi Nissenkorn says in a statement.

— AFP