Hundreds of schools, kindergartens stay shut amid teacher anger over union compromises on pay cuts

Hundreds of schools and kindergartens remain shut this morning as teaching staff call in sick over surprise salary cuts, despite an agreement last night between the Finance Ministry and the Israel Teachers Union.

The Walla news site reports 48 elementary schools in Tel Aviv alone did not open their gates this morning.

Channel 13 news says some 300 educational institutions, mainly in the center of the country, are shut.

Teachers tell Channel 12 news that they are angered by union leader Yaffa Ben David’s concessions in the negotiations, insisting that the salary cut be canceled entirely rather than being reduced and offset.

“The situation is at boiling point,” an unnamed teacher tells Channel 12. “Ben David is apparently ready to compromise. For the first time, teachers are taking their fate into their own hands and are not ready to compromise.”

The Teachers Union said in a statement last night that the agreement would set the pay cut at 0.95% instead of 3.3%, and it would only be in effect from May to the end of December 2025, hailing the “significant achievements.”

The gap in the cuts would be offset by promotions and school benefits, and teachers would get extra vacation days, Hebrew media reported.

According to Channel 12 news, the salary cut does not apply to teachers in Haredi schools.