Transport Workers Union Denies Strike at Ben Gurion Airport, Blames Staffing Shortages for Chaos

The Transport Workers Union at Ben Gurion Airport has denied claims of a sudden strike causing current operational chaos, attributing the disruption instead to severe staffing shortages and inadequate preparation for summer passenger volumes. The union emphasized that no work stoppage order was issued and criticized attempts to blame the turmoil on a strike as misleading and distracting from the real issue.

According to the union, warnings about insufficient manpower were repeatedly raised for months with the Israel Airports Authority and the Transport Minister, but these concerns were ignored. The union stated, "The writing was on the wall, the warnings went unanswered, and now the public is paying the price."

Union representatives highlighted the excessive workload on airport employees, noting they are working hundreds of hours monthly to compensate for the lack of staff and poor state planning. They stressed that the national airport's operations cannot rely on the continuous burnout of its workforce.

In contrast, the Israel Airports Authority claims they have adequate staffing for the summer season and that the congestion results from increased passenger numbers and security checks. However, the union disputes this explanation, maintaining that the staffing shortage is the core problem behind the current chaos at Ben Gurion Airport.