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Photo: Meir Ohayon
Empty classroom
Photo: Meir Ohayon

High school teachers' strike ends as agreement reached

Starting salary for new teachers will be set at NIS 8,000 a month in an effort to bring young, quality teachers into the education system; veteran teachers to get one-time NIS 1,000 bonus next month.

The high school teachers' strike has ended after the Teachers' Associated reached a new employment agreement with the Finance Ministry on Monday, setting teachers' starting salary at NIS 8,000 ($2,265).

 

 

There turning point in negotiations came after the Teachers' Association decided to cancel all tests, including tests preparing students for the matriculation exams' winter dates, putting pressure on the government to reach an agreement.  

 

Empty classrooms during the strike (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Empty classrooms during the strike (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

 

The main points of the agreement:

  • The starting salary for a new teacher will be NIS 8,000 starting September 1, 2018.
  • All educators under the collective agreement will receive an additional NIS 480, paid in increments over 4 years.
  • The maximum stipend for continuing education programs for teachers who are part of the "Oz Latmora" reform will be increased from 18 percent to 19 percent.
  • Teachers will receive additional pay for any additional roles they take on at the school.
  • Teachers who serve as educational advisor will see an increase of 3 percent to their additional pay, which will be done in two stages: 2 percent starting January 2020 and 1 percent starting January 2021.
  • All educators will receive a one-time bonus of NIS 1,000.
  • The Teachers' Association has committed not to strike over issues covered in the agreement until February 28, 2022.

 

After reaching the agreement, the head of the Teachers' Association, Ran Erez, thanked the teachers, saying their "strength and determination" helped bring to the achievements in the agreement.

 

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon welcomed the agreement, saying it would "lead to the improvement of the quality of teaching, narrow the gaps in the education system and increase motivation to work in the field of education."

 

"The teachers are precious assets who protect our children, and our job is to protect them and give them the tools they need to do their job," he added.

 

Education Minister Naftali Bennett also welcomed to agreement. "Today, we are putting the teachers of Israel at the top of the national list of priorities," he said. "The starting salary for teachers will increase by 20 percent. This is a real hike to salaries, which would greatly help teachers who are only starting out. We will continue to do whatever it takes to bring talented and ideals-driven people into the education system."

 

Education Ministry Director-General Shmuel Abuav noted the increase to a teacher's starting salary, saying it "would allow us to recruit young, quality teachers to the education system."

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.12.17, 11:10
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