Sunday, December 31 2000 14:24 5 Tevet 5761

Oil company workers' strike could dry up gas pumps By Jerusalem Post Staff

JERUSALEM (December 31) - Pumps at the nation's gas stations could run dry today as workers for the state-owned oil company plan to go on strike to protest government plans to privatize the firm.

The strike appeared certain after negotiations between employees of the state-owned Infrastructure, Oil and Energy Company and the Treasury broke down. Talks were to have been held last night and then were called off at the last minute.

The workers have already staged sanctions, halting supplies of diesel fuel to gas stations in Jerusalem last week.

Three days ago they also stopped supplying jet fuel to Ben-Gurion Airport.

The strike is expected to affect the public immediately, as many stations had delayed stocking up in anticipation of a 7 percent fuel price cut that was expected to take place tonight.

It was feared that the airport would run out of fuel by last night.

Fuel workers are demanding an extension of their company's contract which is due to expire next week, and the safeguarding of their rights if the government carries out plans to privatize the company.

http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2000/12/31/News/News.18273.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), December 31, 2000