65-day teachers' strike finally over
The longest teachers’ strike in the history of the Israeli educational system has finally come to an end. The Secondary School Teachers' Association (SSTA), and the Finance and Education Ministries managed to reach an agreement yesterday (Thursday 13 December) just minutes before back-to-work orders against the teachers were due to come into effect.
The negotiations were very tense, but after some 20 hours the sides were able to declare a major breakthrough. The agreement includes a 10-percent wage increase, leading to additional increments, and a Prime Ministerial pledge to reduce the number of students per class and restore classroom hours slashed due to budget cuts. Teachers will also be reimbursed in full for the strike in return for putting in the hours necessary to help their students catch-up on missed material.
“The negotiating mood was intense, but good and at the end of the day we are very satisfied… this is a good agreement” said Education Minister, Yuli Tamir.