Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., January 14, 2008 Shvat 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 23:03 (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

Last update - 23:01 14/01/2008 Jerusalem special-education teaching assistants cancel planned strike By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Histadrut, strike, Jerusalem  Jerusalem's special education institutions will be open on Tuesday after the Jerusalem municipality agreed Monday evening to a 5 percent pay increase for special-education teaching assistants. The special education teaching assistants had planned to strike as part of the Histadrut Labor Federation's campaign to secure improved employment conditions and higher salaries for special education teaching assistants. 600 special-education teaching assistants had planned to strike. The sanctions would have affected some 3,000 special-education students, most of whom require constant care. Advertisement The Histadrut's Jerusalem district chairman, Dan Ben-Shitrit, said Monday that "special-education teaching assistants are required to do work that is different from regular education," but earn only slightly more than minimum wage. In addition, according to the Histadrut, special-education teaching assistants in Jerusalem earn 30 percent less than their counterparts in Haifa and Tel Aviv. The three cities have signed a collective employment agreement with the Histadrut, in addition to a central employment agreement signed with the Finance Ministry. The caretakers' salary comprises Finance Ministry funding, as well as a financial supplement paid by local municipalities. According to different sources, the financial supplement earned by Jerusalem caretakers is significantly less than that of caretakers in Haifa and Tel Aviv. Six weeks ago, the Histadrut declared a labor dispute, demanding a salary increase for assistant teacher's in the special-education system. Zion Dahan, who heads the Jerusalem municipality workers' union, said that previous attempts to improve the working conditions of the city's special-education teaching assistants had failed, adding that "the municipality can significantly upgrade the status of special-education teaching assistants, but refuses to do so, clinging to the treasury's policy as an excuse." The Jerusalem municipality said in response that "despite the municipality's support for increasing the salaries of special-education teaching assistants, the treasury official in charge of salaries did not authorize the move. Simultaneously, the municipality is negotiating with the workers' committee in order in order to avoid the strike in the special education schools." Related articles: Jerusalem's assistant special-education teachers to hold strike Bookmark to del.icio.us   Diskin's faulty math The Shin Bet's estimate of civilian casualties was revealed to be too low. A new citizen Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship

Today Online Sources: Barak and settlers reach deal on outpost evacuations Responses: 186 Haaretz probe: Shin Bet count of civilian deaths in Gaza is low Responses: 133 PM says he opposes IDF Gaza onslaught for time being Responses: 105 Zvi Bar'el: The Arabs should stop whining Responses: 100 AJ Congress slams 'Ms'. for rejecting ad on top Israeli women Responses: 45 Rosner's Domain Obama "will be the friend we want in the White House" Do we really want more people to read Ms.? (WTR) Poll: Does Bush still placing the promotion of democracy at the top of his agenda? Iranian's threaten, the candidates threaten back Rosner's Guest: The Jews are best prepared for a "flat world" More Headlines 22:48 PM says he opposes IDF Gaza onslaught for now 20:26 Israel foils bid to take explosive material into Gaza on aid truck 19:33 PM: All options legitimate to block Iran from nuclearizing 21:13 Knesset plenum votes to revive Religious Affairs Ministry, 51-27 23:02 Democrats woo Jewish, minority vote as primaries heat up 22:33 Barak meets with bereaved families, makes no promises on Winograd 19:46 Damascus slams Arab leaders for allowing Bush's 'criticism of Syria' 18:59 Two Palestinians indicted for murder of W. Bank settler Ido Zoldan 22:29 Finance ministry renews negotiations with striking university lecturers 23:01 Jerusalem special-education teaching assistants cancel planned strike Previous Editions Select Day 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec

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