Israeli Teachers Union Leaders' Salaries Revealed Amidst Transparency Push

The Senior Teachers Organization's chairman, Ran Erez, is set to earn approximately 974,500 shekels in 2025, equating to about 81,000 shekels per month, according to a report by The Marker. Shlomo Hadad, the chairman of the organization's professional department, will receive a salary of around 833,000 shekels. These figures were disclosed following a request from the Movement for Freedom of Information to the Ministry of Justice. The organization clarified that these amounts include employer taxes, National Insurance contributions, and pension funds, not just base salary. Representatives stated Erez's salary is pegged to that of a ministry general director, with an added 0.5% longevity bonus per year of service and a car allowance. The monthly gross salary for a ministry general director ranges from 44,000 to 55,000 shekels. Hadad's salary is calculated as 90% of the general director's pay, also with longevity bonuses and a car allowance. Erez, 81, has led the organization since 1997 and also works part-time as a physical education teacher in Ashdod. His tenure, extended in 2022 as he was the sole candidate, runs until 2027. The organization's 2025 budget was approximately 180 million shekels, with over 70 million from teacher dues and about 90 million from the Ministry of Education. The five highest-paid employees collectively earned nearly 4 million shekels. An additional 2.5 million shekels were allocated for "remuneration and expense reimbursement" for four executives, though specific recipients were not named. Major expenditures included over 50 million shekels for teacher gifts and over 40 million for leisure programs. Over 8 million shekels were spent on "professional struggle, advertising, PR, and press work." The organization, registered under Ottoman-era law, is not typically required to disclose detailed financial reports, but new rules implemented in 2021 mandate expanded reporting for such societies, though salary data had not been previously released.

Salaries at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Workers Association were also revealed. The highest earner in 2025 received about 750,000 shekels, including a gross salary of 650,000 shekels. Other top salaries included approximately 500,000 and 440,000 shekels, with two more employees earning around 330,000 shekels gross. These positions were identified as the association's lawyer, financial director, and two managers. Yair Katz, the chairman of the workers' committee, is not included in this list as his salary comes directly from IAI, not the association.