\tStaff at Israeli operator Cellcom walked out in protest over plans to slash its workforce [1] as part of a programme of cost reductions, after the nation\u2019s largest trade union held an emergency meeting to discuss the decision.<\/p>\n
Union Histadrut slammed Cellcom management over their handling of the move and pledged a vigorous challenge to the layoffs, beginning with the commencement of a formal labour dispute with the operator.<\/p>\n
In a translated statement, the organisation\u2019s chairman Arnon Bar-David blasted \u201cthe brutal and emotionless conduct\u201d of Cellcom CEO Nir Sztern towards the company’s staff, adding the executive had violated a code of conduct agreed with the operator\u2019s workers and Histadrut.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe insensitivity displayed by Cellcom’s management is no less than outrageous behaviour, and in 2019 Israel cannot accept such a behaviour,\u201d Bar-David said.<\/p>\n
Maya Yaniv, chair of Cellcom\u2019s employee organisation, added a crisis in the mobile industry won\u2019t be solved by layoffs, arguing management should focus on working with the Ministry of Communications to solve the \u201csevere market failures\u201d.<\/p>\n
In response, Cellcom branded the strike \u201cunlawful\u201d, noting the emergency meeting only cleared workers to take industrial action no sooner than 10 October. Instead, staff had initiated a sudden strike \u201cencompassing the vast majority of the company’s operations\u201d.<\/p>\n
The operator added it will take measures to minimise \u201cadverse effects to the company’s operations but cannot assure their success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cellcom announced the move earlier this week, stating it was necessary to improve its financial position in an effort to boost its competitiveness in a market characterised by low prices.<\/p>\n[1] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/featured-content\/top-three\/cellcom-to-slash-jobs-as-part-of-sweeping-restructure\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Staff at Israeli operator Cellcom walked out in protest over plans to slash its workforce …<\/p>\n
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