Teachers Union Leader Ran Erez Launches Costly Campaign Against Education Minister Yoav Kisch Amidst Political Tensions

The recent confrontation between Ran Erez, chairman of the Israeli Teachers Union, and Education Minister Yoav Kisch highlights a complex dispute where both parties hold valid points. Erez criticizes Kisch’s tenure as damaging, while Kisch points out the lack of significant achievements by Erez since the 2011 salary reform. Despite this, Erez has invested heavily in a billboard campaign accusing Kisch of failure, which appears more like political retaliation following Kisch’s forced retreat from a teachers’ strike in September 2024.

The core issue raised by Kisch involves a controversial decision during the 17-hour war on June 8 to close the education system instead of immediately shifting to online learning. This led the Finance Ministry to deduct a day’s salary from teachers, setting a precedent for future closures during crises. Erez suspects coordination between Kisch and the Finance Ministry to challenge teachers’ ability to reclaim lost workdays, accusing them of deliberate conflicting decisions.

Two teachers’ organizations have formally alerted the Finance Ministry’s wage supervisor and prepared for legal action, which will ultimately be decided by the National Labor Court. Notably, the Teachers’ Union secretary-general, Yaffa Ben-David, has remained silent publicly. Erez’s recent press conference demanding Kisch’s replacement and his expensive advertising campaign seem politically motivated, especially with Kisch’s term nearing its end and upcoming party primaries.

Kisch has dismissed Erez’s strikes as ego-driven and disconnected, reinforcing the perception that Erez’s aggressive tactics serve more to maintain his public profile than to benefit teachers. Both Erez and Ben-David arguably misjudge the main issue facing teachers today, which is public respect rather than salary. Ben-David has begun addressing this by proposing limits on WhatsApp communication between parents and teachers.

In response to Erez’s campaign, the Education Ministry is investigating allegations that the Teachers Union falsely registered 2,000 teachers, threatening to deduct millions of shekels from the union’s budget. This conflict unfolds amid political maneuvering ahead of elections, with Erez hoping to leverage strike threats for influence within the Likud party. However, a labor court ruling last year blocked strikes due to an existing industrial peace agreement, and a similar outcome is expected this year. Regardless, Erez’s strategy guarantees media attention whether or not strikes proceed.