University lecturers to strike
Senior and junior staff throughout the country set to join students in protesting proposed budget cuts; students decide to continue protest despite promise of NIS 300 million
A general strike is planned for Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University in the southern Negev desert after the junior faculty decided to join the protest.
While the lecturers' strike signals definate support for the students' struggle, it comes at a time when student representatives are considering ending their protest, due to intense political pressure.
While the National Student Association and Student Union support an end to the protest, the Tel Aviv Student Union wants to continue the fight.
'Livnat is responsible'
Academic Staff Coordination Committee Chairman Asher Cohen told Ynet the lecturers are not fighting for a higher pay, but rather, for the future of higher education.
"The Education Minister is avoiding taking responsibility for what has happened to higher education and is trying to assign blame to someone else," he said. "It's interesting that during her term as minister, over the past four years, there have been dramatic cutbacks."
Tel Aviv University's junior faculty spokesman Boaz Ben-David said he welcomed the senior staff joining the struggle.
"It's important to remember the struggle is not just about the budget for higher education, but also about the conduct of university heads and their attitudes toward the students and junior staff," he said.
NIS 300 million promised to higher education
Student representatives met Sunday evening to discuss their next moves, following the agreement between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Shinui, which earmarked NIS 300 million (about USD 70 million) for higher education, students needs, and research.
However, the students decided they would continue their protest until they were certain the promised funds from Shinui would be transferred.
