Airport Workers Chair Pins Ben Gurion Chaos on Management, Denies Strike Claims

Following the severe disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport on August 20, 2026, caused by a sudden halt in baggage handling and check-in services, Pinchas Idan, chairman of the Airport Authority workers' union, sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Idan denied that the incident was a strike or any form of planned labor action, instead attributing the collapse to a critical shortage of manpower and unsustainable working conditions endured by the workers. He emphasized that employees showed up for their shifts but could not continue beyond a standard nine-hour shift after weeks of exhausting 13-hour shifts, leading to a physical and mental breakdown of the baggage handling system.

Idan placed full responsibility for the shutdown on the Airport Authority management, accusing them of making a unilateral and irresponsible decision to close check-in counters and halt operations, thereby creating an artificial crisis that left thousands of passengers stranded. He refuted rumors of any wage demands or labor disputes, framing the event as a humanitarian crisis caused by overworked staff. Idan called on Netanyahu and Regev to intervene immediately, demanding an emergency plan to recruit and reinforce ground staff and to ensure the health and dignity of the workers.

The letter, sent shortly before the Sabbath, also appeared aimed at mitigating political fallout for Netanyahu, who faces criticism over the airport chaos. Sources indicate strained relations between Idan and Sharon Kadmi, the Airport Authority CEO, with Idan shifting blame onto management. The union has not declared a labor dispute, which could be significant if the Authority pursues legal action for an illegal strike or disputes over pay for the downtime. The Histadrut labor federation, which was previously involved in a politically charged strike in 2024, distanced itself from the incident, stating it was not involved in any strike action at Ben Gurion Airport this time.