Last update - 00:00 21/10/2007
Tamir proposes external mediation in bid to end university strike
By Tamara Traubmann, Haaretz Correspondent
Education Minister Yuli Tamir on Sunday evening proposed appointing a mediator to work with her ministry and senior university lecturers in order to end a nationwide academic strike.
Senior university staff began the strike Sunday morning following the breakdown of negotiations with government representatives. Classes had been scheduled to begin Sunday.
Tamir suggested a mediation process after the lecturers decided to reject proposals made to them over the weekend.
The minister said: "In the current situation, it appears that an agreement between the Treasury and the senior academic staff is not going to be reached. Therefore, I propose the appointment of a mediator and the immediate commencement of a mediation process, within the framework of a defined period of time - during which the issues up for discussion will be clarified."
The lecturers are demanding compensation for the erosion of their salaries. Tamir and the Treasury's supervisor of wages, Eli Cohen, expressed regret over the lecturers' decision to "needlessly hurt the students and the higher education system."
The strike is in place at Haifa University, Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University, Hebrew University, Technion, and Bar-Ilan University. Despite this, the universities and the libraries remained open, and the administrative staff is working as usual.
The Committee of University Heads had urged the students to come to campus, since "a substantial number of lectures will be given by junior staff members and visiting lecturers, who will not go on strike. Similarly, the administrative services, libraries and laboratories will be available as usual. The students should be there to enquire if and how a lecture is given."