Legal Battle Looms Over Wildcat Strike Disrupting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport

The recent chaos at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport has escalated into a legal dispute over the nature of the labor action causing the disruption. The Israel Airports Authority alleges that the work stoppage was an illegal wildcat strike, while the Histadrut labor federation denies any strike took place, attributing delays to staff shortages. Attorney Ran Gepter-Harmesh clarified that a wildcat strike occurs without approval from the workers' representative organization or outside legal procedures, which typically removes legal protections for participating employees and exposes them to potential disciplinary or legal action.

Under Israeli labor law, a formal notice must be given before a strike or work stoppage; failure to do so can strengthen claims that the strike was unauthorized. The Histadrut's denial of a strike has significant legal implications, as confirmation of an unauthorized strike could increase liability for both the union and individual workers. Gepter-Harmesh noted that in cases of protected strikes, workers and unions enjoy broader legal safeguards, whereas wildcat strikes carry higher risks of damage claims.

If the strike is ruled unauthorized, striking employees and the union leader who allegedly ordered the action could face lawsuits for damages caused. The Airports Authority itself might also be liable under certain circumstances. The incident has reignited discussions about legislative limits on strikes in essential services. Gepter-Harmesh remarked that the Airports Authority's workers' committee demonstrated its considerable power to inflict damage once again.