El Al pilots absent as negotiators reach cockpit savings agreement

Israeli trade union centre Histadrut has reached a new efficiency agreement covering flag-carrier El Al’s pilots, although the pact has been arranged without the pilots’ representatives. Histadrut states that the agreement, reached on 15 July after discussions with the transport workers’ union, will enable the carrier to save $105m annually. But it acknowledges that the pilot sector was “not present at the time of signing”, and has called on the airline’s pilots to “show responsibility” and assist with “rescuing” the carrier. Cockpit union Isralpa has yet to respond to the situation. El Al has previously reached labour agreements with cabin crew, maintenance staff, and administrative personnel. These agreements have been crucial to obtaining a vital state-backed loan and proceeding with an issue of new shares to provide El Al with urgent liquidity. “Since the crisis broke out, I have made a decision that I will do everything to save the company and its thousands of employees,” says Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David. He says the transport workers’ union has worked tirelessly for months to “bridge the gaps” between parties and reach agreements.<br/>