Teachers, gov't deny breakthrough in talks to end month-long strike - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Wed., November 14, 2007 Kislev 4, 5768

Israel Time: 10:13 (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 - 10:10 14/11/2007

Teachers, gov't deny breakthrough in talks to end month-long strike

By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent

tags: secondary schools, Israel

The teachers union and the government both denied Wednesday reports of a breakthrough in the talks aimed at ending a strike that has shut down high schools for more than 30 days.

Progress had been made in talks Tuesday between the government and the Secondary School Teachers Association.

According to sources involved in the negotiations Tuesday, the Finance Ministry for the first time agreed to the SSTA's demand for an immediate 10 percent raise for all teachers. These talks were held at the highest level: Finance Minister Roni Bar-On, Education Minister Yuli Tamir, SSTA Chairman Ran Erez and Histadrut labor federation chair Ofer Eini.

	Advertisement

However, disputes remain over two of the union's other demands: reducing the number of students per class and restoring classroom hours that were cut in previous years.

"The treasury has begun to move toward us and has become slightly more flexible on two principal issues," Erez said after the talks. "They are willing to give the teachers an immediate raise, as a down payment on a future reform, and the raise will be given to all secondary-school teachers."

The Finance Ministry denied in a press statement that any agreement had been reached on either the size of the raise or when it would be paid. But sources involved in the talks said agreement was reached on an immediate 10 percent raise, which will be the first installment of the 26 percent raise that teachers will receive once the parties agree on a reform of secondary education.

The parties have not yet agreed on what additional work teachers will have to do in exchange for the 10 percent raise. The SSTA objects to additional frontal teaching hours; instead, it is proposing that teachers simply spend an additional hour at school, which they will use to complete various tasks connected with their jobs.

Positions softening

The sources said that Tuesday's progress was made possible by a softening of positions on both sides: The treasury withdrew its objection to granting a significant pay increase before any reform had been agreed on, while the SSTA agreed to accept less than the immediate 15 percent raise it had initially demanded.

The sources added that whatever raise is agreed on with the SSTA will also be granted to members of the National Teachers Union, which is not striking. That union, which represents elementary-school teachers, has already agreed with the treasury on a reform under which teachers will work more hours in exchange for a 26 percent raise.

Related articles:

Allies in the fight

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Speaking for Israel
	U.S. Secretary Rice says Israelis are prepared to give up the West Bank for peace.


	Doable deal
	Solana says an Israeli-PA peace agreement can be achieved within 9 months.

Today Online


	Israel to declare freeze on W. Bank settlement construction
	Responses: 16


	Editorial: For equality's sake, Arabs should be 'Israelized'
	Send response


	Seth Anziska: Is the two-state solution still viable?
	Send response


	PA official: Barak, Livni holding Olmert back on peace process
	Responses: 167


	Peres makes history with first address to Turkish parliament
	Responses: 156


	Haaretz.com TV: 'Gazans detained by IDF return naked'
	Responses: 90

Rosner's Domain

Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs on inventing Jewish rituals

GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about

Reasons to like John McCain (WTR)

Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability

More Headlines
08:54 Israel to freeze settlement construction ahead of summit


08:57 Iran charges 5 Argentines over 1994 Jewish center bombing


08:50 Annapolis joint declaration to focus on goals of final status talks


08:59 Dichter: Syria is Israel's only neighbor that thwarts smuggling


09:01 Abbas in Ankara: U.S. must pressure Israel to reach accord with PA


08:46 U.S. Jewish entrepreneur buys Hitler's globe for $100,000


02:01 State refuses to release list of Waqf-owned properties in T.A., Jaffa


06:00 Lador will not recuse himself in Bank Leumi affair


10:10 Teachers, gov't deny breakthrough in talks to end month-long strike


06:28 Nahariya ordered to stop digging graves close to beach