Bezeq Israel workers to strike over plan to sell company (updated)

B Communications

23/01/2019 13:32

(Adds detail, background)
    JERUSALEM, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Workers at Bezeq Israel
Telecom  BEZQ.TA  have called a strike starting on Feb. 5 over
plans by the parent company to divest its controlling stake, the
country's largest telecoms company said on Wednesday.
    Employees are demanding to be represented during talks to
sell the company in order to be able to sign an agreement that
protects workers' rights, Bezeq said in a regulatory filing in
Tel Aviv.
    Workers are also opposed to allowing contract employees to
operate Bezeq's switching equipment and carry out activities
that have until now been performed by staff.
    Bezeq said it was unable to estimate the implications of the
potential strike.
    Internet Gold  IGLD.O , which owns 64.78 percent of B
Communications  BCOM.TA , has been searching for a buyer for its
BCom stake since mid-2018 under heavy pressure from bondholders.
BCom's single asset is a 26.34 percent controlling stake in
Bezeq.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1ZL154
    On Wednesday workers at Bezeq rival Cellcom  CEL.TA ,
Israel's largest mobile phone operator, began labour sanctions
in protest over plans to lay off 250 workers as part of
cost-cutting measures, Cellcom's union said, calling on Cellcom
to find a solution.

 (Reporting by Steven Scheer; editing by Jason Neely)
 ((steven.scheer@thomsonreuters.com; +972 2 632 2210; Reuters
Messaging: steven.scheer.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net;
Twitter: @StevenMScheer))