Israeli Teachers' Union Chief Warns School Year Won't Start Without Changes from Education Minister

The conflict between Ran Erez, chairman of the Israeli Teachers' Union, and Education Minister Yoav Kish has escalated sharply. In an unusual press conference, Erez harshly criticized Kish's management of the education system, accusing him of failure and warning that if no changes occur during the summer break, the upcoming school year will not open.

Erez's immediate grievance concerns the decision to deduct teachers' salaries for a canceled school day on June 8 due to security concerns. Despite teachers conducting remote preparation sessions for matriculation exams that day, they were informed their pay would be docked. Erez stated, "We have reached a point where the Education Minister says teachers do not matter to him," adding that this is symptomatic of how the education system has been run over the past four years.

He further accused Kish of frequent unstable reforms, cuts to special education hours, severe shortages of math, physics, and English teachers, inadequate emergency learning preparations post-COVID, and systemic issues including poor security and lack of long-term planning. Erez also criticized Kish for excluding the teachers' union from decision-making, emphasizing that "those who make education in Israel are the teachers. If the minister cannot work with professionals, the education system cannot succeed."

When asked if the union intends to strike and prevent the school year from starting, Erez responded, "If we do not achieve change during the summer, certainly we will not open the school year."

The Education Ministry dismissed these statements as empty threats aimed at generating headlines. They noted that during Erez's 30-year leadership, he has failed to secure significant achievements for teachers and has instead relied on threats and strikes that disrupt education continuity. The ministry clarified that the salary deduction directive came from the Finance Ministry, not Education, and that Kish supports the teachers' position. The ministry also stated that any attempt to strike at the school year's start would prompt immediate legal action to enforce existing wage agreements.

Regarding the canceled school day, the Home Front Command had announced no classes would be held following an attack in Iran, and Kish deemed it unreasonable to demand teachers switch to remote teaching on short notice. The salary deduction issue is expected to be resolved in labor court.

This dispute highlights deep tensions between the teachers' union and the Education Ministry ahead of the new academic year, with potential significant disruptions if no resolution is reached.