The teachers' union strike has been canceled: high school classes will continue as usual

The National Labor Court issued a restraining order to the teachers this evening (Saturday) and stated that classes in the 10th and 11th grades will take place tomorrow as usual. This, after the teachers' organization announced last night the closure of classes, in protest of the lack of progress in the negotiations on teachers' salaries between the Ministry of Finance and Education and the secondary teachers' organization. The organization also stated that "on Sunday, it is expected to announce additional steps to escalate the protest."

The Ministry of Education stated: "Continuing to the injunction submitted on Friday to the National Labor Court in light of the sanctions of the teachers' organization, the Ministry of Education welcomes the court's decision not to allow the strike that was planned to take place tomorrow (Sunday) in order to prevent harm to students in grades 10-10." A. The Ministry of Education is making great efforts to advance the negotiations between the Ministry of Finance and the teachers' organization on the issue of the salary agreement for the teaching staff in the secondary schools, and supports the demand of the teachers' organization and their just struggle to improve their wages and working conditions. We will make it clear that the Ministry of Education will not allow its hand to harm Israeli students and the public of parents."

After the strike was announced, the chairman of the organization, Ran Erez, said: "I am sorry to see the lack of interest shown by the Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, in what is happening in the education system, in the lack of professional teachers, in the existing abandonment and disdain of the finance officials for the claims of the elementary teachers."

Ran Erez (Photo: Avshalom Sashoni)

The National Student and Youth Council called on the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the teachers' organization "to enter one room and not leave it until all the gaps are resolved and the harm to the students ceases". The council also added that "the matriculation period is in full swing and the actions of the teachers' organization against the students may cause significant damage to the students' achievements in these exams, thus harming their future. The National Student and Youth Council expects the crisis to be resolved as soon as possible. We must stop the damage to the future of the 10th and 11th grade students Just a few days ago, they expected to be released from the sanctions following the Labor Court's order for the teachers' organization to return the protective and special grades to everyone."

Last week, the Ministry of Finance offered the teachers' organization an updated proposal on the salary agreement . According to the proposal, upon full maturity of the salary agreement, a teacher's salary will start at NIS 10,000 for a teacher with a bachelor's degree and NIS 10,900 for a teacher with a master's degree.

Over 1,500 shekels have been added to the starting salary since their previous offer. In the first step, this coming September, their salary will rise to 9,099 NIS and 9,952 NIS respectively. Also, a salary increase will be given to all teachers that does not decrease from an amount of NIS 850 upon full maturity of the agreement.