JERUSALEM, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Workers at Israel's Mediterranean port of Ashdod went on strike Tuesday because the management refused to triple their regular daily wage for working on election day, Ha'aretz newspaper reported on its website.

    Israel has designated Tuesday as a national holiday, except for emergency services and works related to the elections, so as to allow voters to cast ballots in Knesset or parliament elections.

    The trade union representing the Ashdod Port workers rejected a management plea to work as usual, given the large number of ships awaiting loading and unloading.

    According to Ha'aretz, the management offered to double the regular wage, which is the normal rate for working on Shabbat and other holidays. But the workers refused, holding out for 300 percent plus a premium.

    Shipping sector sources voiced anger and criticized the strike, which they said will cause loss of tens of millions of shekels for exporters and importers.

    But Haim Shayeb, the chairman of the Ashdod branch of the Histadrut labor federation, denied the fact of the strike.

    "There was no dispute over money. The reason for the port workers' absence is their desire to fulfill their civic duty and vote. The Ashdod port workers have never worked on election day," he said.

    Ha'aretz reported that in another Israeli port city Haifa, the management did reach an agreement with workers, in which the workers accepted a double wage. Enditem