Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 09, 2007 Cheshvan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:39 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 13:46 08/11/2007 Professors are also on strike, just in case you haven't heard By Tamara Traubman tags: senior faculty As the university professors strike enters its third week, it appears to many professors that the action is overshadowed by the teachers strike, which appears to garner far more media coverage and public sympathy. The professors action is considered elitist, encompassing only senior faculty at the universities - not junior or adjunct university professors, nor any college staff. Junior staff have not joined the strike because they are not and would not be covered by the contract that the senior professors are fighting for. Advertisement The universities' managements estimate that 30-50 percent of classes are being held. University presidents say the strike, "could seriously harm students and endanger the entire semester." The professors are fighting for a pay hike and a new contract, after the old one expired in 2001. The professors union says the university pay scale has eroded 35 percent since 1997. Talks with the Finance Ministry have stalled as the union demands the ministry commit to the rate of the future pay raise before conducting its own evaluation of the extent salaries have eroded. According to union chief Professor Zvi Hacohen, "This is not a battle only for wages, but an honest effort to stop the brain drain." The professors say the wage erosion is part and parcel of other erosion in working conditions such as the undermining of research infrastructure and the deteriorating status of the Israeli academic compared to his overseas counterpart. Brain drain hits universities Treasury officials are also aware of the brain drain and that Israeli universities have trouble competing with the research conditions and salaries offered to young researchers abroad. The treasury claims the solution is implementation of the Shochat reform, which students have threatened to block. The Treasury is willing to grant the professors a 4.7 percent pay hike, similar to an agreement with the Histadrut. The Treasury is also open to discussing a larger wage hike, tied to implementation of the Shochat reform. The professors union had demanded in the past that the pay hike be distributed according to seniority, which could lead to differences of thousands of shekels between raises for senior faculty and younger staff. The union is now willing to discuss a different distribution method. Another dispute revolves around the state-supported pension for professors emeriti. These pensions, the central cause of deficits in university budgets, are linked to the salaries of active professors. The treasury wants to link them to the Consumer Price Index. Bookmark to del.icio.us Preface to peace? The U.S. has rejected Abbas' demand for a schedule for the final-status agreement. Crowd control The IFA has banned Beitar Jerusalem fans from two home games for booing Rabin.   1.   This weakens the original strike tremendously 19:24  |  Levy 08/11/07   2.   this is a fair strike 23:46  |  Bob 08/11/07   3.   to Levy #1 09:32  |  Leon Rosgarten 09/11/07

Today Online Jessica Balaban: Why should world Jewry aid Israeli Arabs Send response Michalis Firillas: Pakistan turmoil raises specter of Islamic bomb Send response Jacob Victor: American Jewish leaders musn't let political advantage trump moral integrity Send response Report: Washington worried Israel gearing up to attack Iran Responses: 156 Haaretz.com TV: Judaism seeking rebirth in Poland Responses: 69 David Grossman snubs Olmert upon receiving prize Responses: 55 More Headlines 08:15 Israel, PA agree future deals hinge on implementing road map 02:56 Knesset Constitution Committee seeks reform of electoral system 09:25 Israeli envoy to U.K. Zvi Heifetz likely to advise Blair on Mideast 05:02 Aide to Spanish PM: Spain seeks to improve relations with Israel 09:22 Israel seeks fresh Holocaust reparations deal with Germany 09:11 Fellow journalists to honor Haaretz commentator Yoel Marcus in Eilat 23:06 UN Chief orders full probe of rocket launching from school in Gaza 08:13 T.A. threatens to sue electric company for bridge over power plant 04:13 Tottenham defeats Hapoel Tel Aviv in UEFA Cup match 23:44 Barak and Olmert meet face-to-face to level working tensions 15:53 Iran rejects Interpol warrant for suspects in Argentine bombing Previous Editions Select Day 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved