Islam Times - Uncollected garbage piles up in Israel as paralyzing strike continues

Islam Times - Uncollected garbage has been piling up in major Israeli cities after authorities and trade unions failed to reach an agreement over a recent general strike that paralyzed public services.

About half of the garbage in big cities has not been collected since Wednesday as the strike entered its fifth day on Sunday. More than 10,000 tons of trash has accumulated in Tel Aviv.

Israeli trade and labor unions went on strike on Wednesday, demanding that the finance ministry improve the employment conditions of contract workers.

Many bus drivers have also joined the strike, disrupting transportation on the first day of the Israeli working week.

The strikers say that contract workers should have the same rights as regular staffers. Contract workers have lower salaries than full-time colleagues and few benefits, and can be fired without notice.

The Histadrut labor federation and finance ministry officials failed again late Saturday to resolve their dispute over the rights of contract workers.

The Ben Gurion airport, railways and harbors were open on Sunday, but offices, banks and the stock exchange kept up the open-ended strike.