TEL AVIV, Israel — A teachers’ strike affecting schools and kindergartens is set to commence under a ruling from the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court. Judge Osnat Robovitz stipulated that the strike may continue until 10:00 a.m., after which she deemed it unjustified to prolong the work stoppage.
The ruling comes on the heels of the Teachers’ Union’s refusal to accept a compromise proposed to reduce the planned duration of the strike from three hours to one. The situation escalated after the Finance Ministry implemented budget cuts impacting teachers’ salaries, linked to war-related expenditures.
In anticipation of the strike, the state sought an injunction to halt the action, with a court session scheduled for early Sunday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the impending strike by asserting that the Finance Ministry’s budget adjustments were not targeted at teachers. He claimed the media had misconstrued the situation, fostering unnecessary unrest among educators.
Smotrich also mentioned that the ministry had provided numerous proposals to the Teachers’ Union aimed at mitigating the impact of the budget cuts on teachers’ incomes. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry expressed its support for the strike, which is expected to disrupt kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools nationwide.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch emphasized the legitimacy of the teachers’ grievances, stating the struggle faced by educators and kindergarten teachers is entirely justified. The ministry’s decision not to pursue an injunction reflects its stance of solidarity with the teaching community amid this contentious atmosphere.
As teachers prepare to take action, the implications of the budget cuts, as well as the ongoing negotiations between the Teachers’ Union and the Finance Ministry, remain at the forefront of discussions in Israel’s educational sector.
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