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Last update - 12:03 18/06/2008 State, primary school teachers strike NIS 5.5 billion labor pact By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Education Ministry  The government and the teachers union officially agreed Wednesday to a new collective bargaining agreement for elementary and middle school teachers, thus concluding an 18-month long negotiation. "After 60 years, we have managed, in cooperation with the state, to put education at the top of the list of priorities and to improve the standing of teachers and their work conditions," said Yossi Wasserman, the secretary-general of the primary school teachers union. The deal is estimated to cost NIS 5.5 billion. Talks between the treasury and Education Ministry on one hand, and the union on the other will continue, as both sides haggle over clauses in the deal touching on work conditions for kindergarten and pre-school instructors. Advertisement "After years of attempting to enact reforms in education, we succeeded in reaching an agreement with the primary school teachers union," Eli Cohen, the treasury official in charge of public sector wages, said. "Wasserman was a true partner throughout the entire process, and he saw the good of the teacher and student [as paramount]." "It was not certain we would receive this budget this year given the current economic situation," Education Minister Yuli Tamir told a conference in Be'er Sheva on Wednesday. "So it's good that we agreed to it this past year." According to terms of the deal, teachers' salaries will rise by an average of 26 percent. In exchange, teachers will be required to work an additional 36 hours per week - rather than the current rate of 30 hours per week ? with 26 of those hours to be devoted to classroom instruction. The remainder of the hours are to be designated for private tutoring of students as well as after-school overtime. The reform, which has been given the nickname "New Horizon," will impact some 250,000 students enrolled in close to 760 schools, 450 of which recently signed onto the initiative. Concurrently, the education ministry will move to reduce classroom size to 32 students in 600 other schools. The reform also calls for an additional 900,000 "individual hours," during which teachers will work with small groups of students. Related articles: Teachers, Treasury conclude meeting over strike without breakthrough Teachers' union vows to launch strike this week after talks fail Education Minister comes up with booster plan for Arab schools A tough lesson for all Bookmark to del.icio.us   Religious pressure Tel Aviv supermarket chain agrees gradual Shabbat closure. Overgenerous diplomacy UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free.

Read & React Israel okays Gaza truce, says will ease blockade Responses: 207 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is calling the shots Responses: 65 Moshe Arens: Israel has nothing to fear from next U.S. administration Responses: 36 Sarkozy aide: Olmert and Assad could meet in Paris next month Responses: 44 Editorial: Law to ban Arab MKs from visiting enemy states is an insulting PR ploy Responses: 39 Rosner's Domain Will next U.S. Congress top current record number of Jewish lawmakers? Guests: Weak relationship between later marriage and intermarriage To Republicans Iran's a threat, to Democrats not so much (WTR) Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for... Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran More Headlines 17:20 Olmert: Shalit release inseparable from truce deal 17:04 Families of missing soldiers briefed ahead of Hezbollah deal 14:38 Israel says it's ready to begin peace talks with Lebanon 14:41 Sarkozy aide: Olmert and Assad could meet in Paris next month 17:20 Syrian FM: We back Gaza truce, hope Israel fulfills commitments 13:34 MKs back referendum on Golan, East Jerusalem withdrawals 14:45 Shas MK: 300,000 Jews still in Ethiopia eligible for immigration 15:50 Knesset rejects Lieberman bill that would tax draft-dodgers 17:03 Peres in Jordan: Palestinian, Syrian tracks shouldn't affect each other 17:10 Livni blasts culture of corruption in Israeli leadership 12:23 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is calling the shots 17:19 Latin America Jewish Congress honors Chilean President 08:48 Civil Administration officials indicted in West Bank land steal Previous Editions Select Day 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun

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