Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., December 27, 2007 Tevet 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:42 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 06:38 27/12/2007 Striking professors slam university heads for going to court By Tamara Traubmann and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Technion, Israel  Striking senior university faculty said the decision by the university presidents to seek an injunction from the Labor Court to end their 10-week strike was unprecedented in academia. Some of the lecturers passed resolutions condemning the move; the Technion in Haifa began the process to have its president removed. By Wednesday night the university heads united front had begun to crack. Tel Aviv University President Zvi Galil said he opposed the issuing of an injunction by the court and asked that the name of Tel Aviv University be removed from the request. Speaking to 500 members of the senior faculty, his statements were received with cheers. However an official on the Council of University Presidents later said Galil would appear together with the other university heads at the Labor Court on Sunday. Professor Moshe Kaveh, the council's chairman, said Wednesday they did not want the injunctions to be invoked immediately. Advertisement "We first of all want to get back to intensive negotiations and report to the court. We will seek the injunctions only as a last resort. The approach to the court is not against the faculty but mainly to bring the Finance Ministry to the table, and not to allow the semester to be lost." Labor Court President Judge Steve Adler has given the faculty until Sunday morning to respond to the presidents demand. Adler has also called the attorneys for the university heads, the lecturers and the treasury to a conference to take place Thursday. The request to the Labor Court states that the strike has directly harmed some 100,000 students, and has caused "cumulative damage to the public higher education system" in which it may be perceived that "the chance to obtain a degree is complicated and subject to the threat of strikes." The lecturers are seeking a 30-percent pay increase, while the treasury is willing to raise their salaries by 20 percent, some of which would be chalked up to past erosion of their pay, and some to future erosion. "We are very disappointed in the appeal to the court," said Professor Ben-Zion Munitz, chairman of Tel Aviv University's senior faculty union. "They have changed the relationship in academia from cooperation to plaintiff and defendant." The Technion faculty decided Wednesday to denounce their president and the heads of the other universities, and a number of lecturers began proceedings to dismiss Technion President Professor Yitzhak Apeloig, for being part of the request to the Labor Court. To that end, they are seeking the signatures of 100 members of the university senate, half that body, to pass a vote of no-confidence in the president. By Wednesday, they had collected about half the required signatures. Lecturers at the Hebrew University made a similar decision on Tuesday with regard to President Menachem Magidor. However, this is purely a declarative step as only the university's executive committee can dismiss the president. The Hebrew University's junior faculty struck for one day Wednesday in sympathy with senior lecturers, and set up a protest tent opposite the prime minister's residence. Meanwhile, in Be'er Sheva, some 300 students blocked main traffic arteries following a meeting between students and lecturers to try to unite their two fights into one for overall education in Israel. Related articles: T.A. University head says opposes injunctions against striking faculty Knesset panel: Gov't responsible for ongoing university strike University wage: Up to NIS 25,000 a month Bookmark to del.icio.us Aliyah from Iran A group of 40 new immigrants from Iran touched down in Israel on Tuesday. Race to White House Top Republican candidate Mike Huckabee supports dialogue with Iran.   1.   Enough is enough! 09:11  |  S 27/12/07

Today Online PM, Abbas to meet in bid to defuse Har Homa spat Responses: 139 Knesset to decide on bill to preserve Muslim holy sites Responses: 89 Tom Segev: We must acknowledge our role in Palestinian tragedy Responses: 245 1929 massacre victims' kin reclaims Hebron house Responses: 111 Haaretz.com TV: Girls who complained about rabbi banished from community Responses: 79 Rosner's Domain Jews, enjoy your mistletoe (WTR) Race for the White House: Iraq issue boosts McCain Poll: The most likely event to happen in 2008 Candidate wanted, no experience needed More Headlines 08:35 Source: Turkey monitoring support from Israel 'very closely' 08:39 Tycoon Gaydamak launches bid for local power with new party 09:41 U.S. Senator: Syria wrong to think Democrat will give it better deal 08:43 Gaza census renewed as Hamas scales back demand to see data 08:45 Groups appeal state bid to wrap up mass Ethiopian immigration 05:33 State comptroller to investigate sale of contested Hebron house 08:39 Report: Egypt's Mubarak delivered message to Barak from Damascus 09:23 MKs passes Economic Arrangements Bill, to vote next on state budget 00:55 Interior Min. to form tribunal for applicants denied residency 06:38 Striking professors slam university heads for going to court 02:12 Murderer receives 7 more years in prison after returning to Israel Previous Editions Select Day 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem 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 Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! 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