Ran Erez, chairman of Israel’s Secondary School Teachers Association, on Saturday accused educators who refused to join a high school teachers’ strike of being “parasites” and a “fifth column.”
The strike on Sunday entered its second week, leaving 500,000 students in grades 10-12 at home despite the school year officially starting on Sept. 1.
The Education Ministry informed local authorities they must deduct days not worked from teacher salaries. “According to the government’s decision, wages should not be paid for strike days,” the ministry said.
Some teachers, particularly in the state-religious school system, decided to come to work despite the strike, Channel 13 reported.
Erez said that teachers who work when their colleagues strike are parasites who intend to enjoy the achievements of others. “I don’t believe there are many teachers who prefer to be parasites, to place this symbol on themselves, the mark of Cain,” he said.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch charged back: “No, Ran, our teachers are neither ‘parasites’ nor a ‘fifth column.’ They are heroes who gave and are giving everything for their students. They are educational leaders who rescued the past school year and they are the ones who recognize the difference between a stubborn ego and a just struggle.”
The Education Ministry and the Teachers Association have agreed to a 2,000 shekel ($536) per month raise for teachers; the main stumbling block is the issue of private, or individual, contracts.
The government demands that 6% of teachers be employed through individual contracts, which it says offer more flexibility and reward teachers based on merit, rather than seniority. It says such contracts will also increase the number of teachers entering the system, which currently suffers from a shortfall.
The Teachers Association argues that private contracts will open the door for unqualified teachers and reduce the quality of education.
The government says that the union’s main fear is that individual contracts will break its hold over the education system.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned before the strike started, “Ran Erez opposes it [individual contracts] because he wants to maintain his power. Do not harm the students, certainly not in wartime. And also do not harm yourselves. Because those who strike will not get paid.”
