First publication: Hundreds of bus drivers will shut down lines in Samaria

Passengers of the "Tnufa" company are expected to be affected today (Monday) by a five-hour warning strike, after hundreds of drivers and employees announced that they would halt the operation of the lines in protest against what they define as an ongoing crisis in the company.

The strike is scheduled to take place between 13:00 and 18:00 and will involve more than 400 drivers and employees. For passengers, this means potential disruptions and delays on public transport lines in the Samaria region and the Jerusalem corridor. According to the workers' committee, the strike follows two central issues that have been troubling drivers recently: the maintenance status of the buses and uncertainty surrounding wages and social rights.

Drivers claim that defects and malfunctions in the buses affect both their sense of security during work and the safety of the passengers. In addition, they raise concerns regarding potential delays in payments and the transfer of social contributions. According to the employees, the goal of the strike is not to harm the traveling public, but to compel the company's management to find a solution and ensure that transport in the area is operated safely.

Chairman of the Public Transport Drivers Organization, Israel Ganon, stated:

"It is unacceptable that drivers should be required to operate buses when there are failures in maintenance, and it is unacceptable that employees should fear receiving their wages and the rights due to them. Passenger safety and employee rights are not a subject for negotiation."

The National Federation of Labor (Histadrut Leumit) and the Public Transport Drivers Organization are calling on the Ministry of Transport and the management of Tnufa to intervene quickly to end the crisis. Tnufa stated that the company is working to ensure proper service to the public and is conducting a dialogue to resolve the disputes with its employees.