Education Minister Yuli Tamir
צילום: ששון תירם
No progress in talks between Treasury, teachers
As middle and high schools teachers' strike enters its fourth day, association chairman meets with Education, Finance Ministries' representatives to discuss ways to end strike
The negotiations between the Middle and High Schools Teachers' Association and the Finance and Education Ministries resumed Sunday afternoon, as the strike in schools across Israel went into its fourth day, forcing some 400,000 students to remain at home.
The teachers demand a wage raise and improved employment conditions.
The parties reported that no progress was made in the talks, which lasted for about three hours.
Finance Ministry officials said at the end of the meeting that "Ran Erez, chairman of the Middle and High School Teachers' Association, continued to hold steadfastly to his opinion and refuses to discuss a reform in the high school system."
A senior Treasury representative told Ynet on Saturday that the teachers were losing millions of shekels in salaries each day of the strike, and added that the Ministry did not plan to reimburse them.The Union of Local Authorities in Israel told Education Minister Yuli Tamir this week that each day of the strike cost the local authorities about NIS 5.7 million (about $1.4 million), used to finance alternative activities for some 120,000 of the students.
