ZIM workers decalre full shutdown amid labour dispute

The Histadrut expresses its full support for the decision taken today by the ZIM Workers’ Committee to halt all company operations, following the collapse of negotiations with the company’s board of directors. This decision was not taken lightly. It is the result of prolonged and serious concerns about the future of workers’ employment, collective agreements, and ZIM’s strategic role in Israel’s economy and national resilience.

Proposed restructuring puts 900 jobs at risk

At the heart of the dispute lies management’s intention to restructure the company to fragment ZIM into several smaller entities. The Workers’ Committee sees it as a direct threat to the livelihoods of approximately 900 employees, many of them veteran workers approaching retirement age, and it undermines long‑standing commitments to job security and decent working conditions.

“The workers of ZIM are fighting for their future, but also for the future of the State of Israel,” said Oren Kaspi, Chair of the ZIM Workers’ Committee. “We will not allow a reality in which workers who devoted their lives to the company are pushed into poverty, nor will we accept the dismantling of ZIM in a way that places Israel’s maritime trade in foreign hands.”

National implications of foreign ownership

ZIM is a strategic national asset, and its workers have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to the public interest. ZIM workers ensured the continuity of essential supply chains by transporting fuel, equipment, and critical goods to Israel in the last three years. The company and its workers also played a key role in facilitating the return of medical professionals stranded abroad when Israeli airspace was closed.

The labour dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of a planned sale of ZIM to Germany’s Hapag‑Lloyd and the Israeli FIMI fund, valued at over USD 3.5 billion. From the workers’ perspective, the involvement of foreign investors could jeopardise the company’s ability to maintain service continuity during emergency periods. As an outcome, the workers committee fear that a clear public interest would be in jeopardy; Israel’s ability to rely on its maritime infrastructure during emergencies.

The Histadrut stands firmly behind the ZIM Workers’ Committee and its members. As Moshe Mizrahi, Chairman of the Histadrut in the Haifa District, stated: “ZIM’s workers have acted with responsibility, professionalism, and dedication for years. It is unacceptable that management conducts negotiations in bad faith while attempting to erode hard‑won rights. The Histadrut will use all the means at its disposal to defend the workers and their committee.”

The labour dispute at ZIM was formally declared two months ago. Throughout this period, workers have acted responsibly and transparently, seeking solutions that protect both employment and the public interest.

The Histadrut stands in solidarity with transport and maritime workers who are defending not only their jobs, but also the principle that essential services must serve the public good. Globally, privatisation and corporate restructuring are increasingly pursued at the expense of employment security, collective bargaining, and public resilience. We remain committed to working with affected workers’ committees to ensure that economic decisions in strategic industries respect workers’ rights, social responsibility, and the needs of society as a whole.

Information for this article was taken from this Davar publication