Israeli Teachers' Union Reaches Agreement Ending Labor Dispute Over Employment Conditions

Ran Erez, chairman of the Israeli Teachers' Union, announced an agreement with the Finance Ministry, Education Ministry, and the Local Government Center resolving key issues concerning high school teachers' employment conditions. Following the accord, the union canceled the labor dispute declared in May. The agreement includes canceling planned salary deductions for teachers on June 8, a day when schools were closed due to conflict with Iran; the union stated teachers continued teaching and preparing students for matriculation exams online that day.

The deal allows schools that have adopted or will adopt a five-day school week by September 1 to continue this schedule until at least the end of 2028. Additionally, a directive that would have ended teachers' ability to perform remote work hours was revoked. The agreement also raises the matriculation exam bonus for physics teachers instructing the five-unit level from 2% to 4%, matching the bonus for chemistry teachers, effective September 1.

Furthermore, homeroom teachers with integrated special education students will receive an annual grant of 600 shekels per integrated student and 2,000 shekels if two or more such students are in the class. This payment will be retroactive from September 1, 2025, and paid by September 2026. The quota for teachers eligible for early retirement will increase from 320 to 350.