Hundreds of schools and kindergartens across central Israel remained closed for a third consecutive day on Tuesday as teachers continued an unofficial strike in protest of recent pay cuts, despite an agreement reached between the Finance Ministry and the Israel Teachers Union earlier in the week. The ongoing disruption has left tens of thousands of young students without schooling and highlights the deep-seated dissatisfaction among educators regarding their compensation and the terms of the negotiated settlement.
The initial strike action began on Friday with a significant number of kindergarten teachers calling in sick to circumvent a labor court injunction against a planned official strike by the Teachers Union. This unofficial action continued into Sunday, with an estimated 25,000 teaching staff nationwide reporting sick, forcing many educational institutions to remain closed even after a labor court ordered an earlier end to the official strike action that day.
While the Teachers Union, led by Yaffa Ben David, announced the end of their strike at the beginning of the week after reaching a new agreement with the Finance Ministry, a significant portion of teachers are expressing strong opposition to the concessions made in the deal, particularly a revised pay cut. Initially set at 3.3%, the cut was negotiated down to 0.95% to be implemented from May until the end of December 2025. However, many teachers view this compromise as insufficient and are continuing their protest by calling in sick en masse.
According to reports, over 400 schools and kindergartens in central Israel were affected by the continued unofficial strike on Tuesday. The Finance Ministry has expressed concerns about the involvement of “political figures” who are allegedly making “false promises” to teachers that the wage agreement can be altered. The ministry also warned that teachers who are protesting by claiming sick leave may face consequences, as the Education Ministry has been instructed to not recognize these absences as legitimate sick days and to potentially dock the teachers’ salaries accordingly.
A protest group of teachers has reportedly demanded a meeting with union leader Yaffa Ben David, voicing their discontent with the negotiated agreement. In a statement reported by Channel 13, the group asserted that the agreement has not yet been formally signed and urged for the continued closure of schools and kindergartens, believing that sustained pressure on the government will lead to a more favorable outcome. “Pressure on the government works,” the group stated.
The ongoing situation has created significant disruption for families and the education system as a whole. Parents have had to make alternative arrangements for childcare, and concerns are growing about the impact on students’ learning. The long-term consequences of this sustained period of disruption remain to be seen.
The Education Ministry has reportedly instructed district administrators to summon teachers who are suspected of inciting illegal strike activity for hearings. This move suggests a hardening stance from the authorities towards the unofficial protest action. However, the determination of the protesting teachers indicates that the dispute over pay and working conditions is far from resolved.
Looking ahead, it is unclear how long this unofficial strike action will continue and whether the protesting teachers will eventually accept the terms of the agreement reached by their union. The pressure from the Finance and Education Ministries, coupled with the disruption caused by the ongoing closures, may eventually lead to a resolution. However, the strong sentiments expressed by the teachers suggest that further negotiations or concessions may be necessary to fully resolve the underlying issues and ensure the smooth functioning of the education system in the long term. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days as both sides attempt to find a way forward.
