Israeli Teachers' Union Ends High School Strike Threat After Agreement with Government

Ran Erez, chairman of the Israeli Teachers' Union, announced that the strike threat in high schools has been lifted following agreements reached with the Finance and Education Ministries. The union canceled the labor dispute after teachers were initially docked pay for a day of escalation related to tensions with Iran when schools were closed. The agreement includes a pay raise for physics teachers preparing students for five-unit matriculation exams and an annual bonus for integration class educators, retroactive to the previous school year. Additionally, the early retirement quota for teachers will increase from 320 to 350, and teachers will assist with substitute teaching for four hours during the 2023-2024 school year as needed.

Erez emphasized that the union achieved most of its negotiation goals, securing significant benefits for teachers and pledging to continue advocating for improved working conditions and correcting injustices in the education system under the Education Minister's responsibility. Two weeks prior, Erez had sharply criticized Education Minister Yoav Kisch and threatened strike action over the pay deduction for the day schools were closed amid Iran-related security concerns. Erez accused Kisch of harming the education system and warned of a bleak future for Israeli education under his leadership.

The Education Ministry responded by criticizing Erez's long tenure, accusing him of focusing on threats and strikes rather than strengthening teachers' status, and blaming him for disrupting students' education and harming the system through personal attacks on education ministers.