Israeli Teachers' Union Threatens School Strike Over Unpaid '17-Hour War' Workday

Ran Erez, chairman of the Israeli Secondary Teachers' Union, has threatened to shut down high school education next academic year if teachers are not paid for their work during the "17-hour war" day. This refers to June 8, when the Education Minister Yoav Kisch ordered schools closed amid a brief conflict with Iran, but teachers still worked. Erez criticized Minister Kisch at a press conference, accusing him of causing harm by engaging in politics and failing to consult with teachers' representatives, calling him the first education minister to do so.

The controversy arose after the Finance Ministry instructed the Education Ministry not to pay teachers for that day, effectively cutting hundreds of shekels from each teacher's salary. The Finance Ministry's payroll supervisor sent a letter demanding the Education Ministry deduct pay for June 8, when Kisch had ordered no classes, including remote learning. Teachers were offered the option to "sign" for a day off instead of losing pay. Erez condemned this as an unlawful salary deduction made without coordination with teachers' unions.

This dispute highlights growing tensions between the government and educators, with Erez warning that without a change, the education system faces a serious crisis due to teacher shortages and lack of training. The Finance Committee has also delayed benefits for hundreds of nonprofit organizations amid unrelated political pressures. The teachers' union is now pushing for full payment for the "17-hour war" workday to avoid a strike that could disrupt the upcoming school year.