400 Tenufa Bus Drivers Strike Over Poor Maintenance and Wage Uncertainty Amid Sale Talks

Approximately 400 bus drivers employed by Tenufa, operating in the Samaria and Jerusalem areas, initiated a warning strike protesting poor bus maintenance and uncertainty over wages and social benefits. The strike coincides with ongoing negotiations to sell Tenufa, currently owned by Maya Tour, Istlink Lanker, China Motors, and the Shasha Group, with several offers received, including from Metropoline, owned by Generation Fund.

The workers' committee claims that the poor maintenance of the bus fleet compromises both driver and passenger safety, attributing the situation to company management and cash flow difficulties affecting service quality. The strike aims to compel the company's management to take responsibility and guarantee lawful payment of wages and social benefits. The decision to strike was made jointly by the workers' committee and the National Labor Federation.

The Public Transport Drivers Organization, representing most drivers in Israel, urged the company management and the Ministry of Transport to intervene immediately to resolve the crisis. Israel Ganon, chairman of the organization, expressed full support for Tenufa workers, emphasizing that safety and workers' rights are non-negotiable and condemning the expectation that drivers operate buses with maintenance defects and wage uncertainties.

Metropoline's potential acquisition of Tenufa is currently under preliminary review. Although Tenufa is relatively small compared to other Israeli bus companies, it operates highly sought-after routes due to rapid population growth in Samaria and Jerusalem and its strategic locations near hospitals and industrial zones.