From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Many schools, kindergartens to remain closed as teachers continue to protest salary cut
Many schools and kindergartens are set to remain closed as teaching staff call in sick in continued action over surprise salary cuts, despite an agreement between the Finance Ministry and the Israel Teachers Union.
Many teachers are unhappy with union leader Yaffa Ben David’s concessions in the negotiations, and are planning to continue to strike.
Reports say the majority of closed educational institutions are in the center of the country.
The Ynet news site reports that the disruptions are beginning to spread to the special education system, which previously had not been involved in the action.
Some municipalities have started to offer activities in community centers, albeit with parental supervision required.
Initial estimates by the Education Ministry suggest 17,000-20,000 teachers — around 10 percent of the workforce — listed themselves as sick yesterday, though it is unclear how many schools remained closed nationwide, the Kan public broadcaster reported.
The report noted that in Tel Aviv, 218 kindergartens and over 50 elementary and middle schools were shuttered.
The official strike began Sunday morning after apparent wildcat strikes on Friday. Some teachers did not report to work until 10 a.m., and others did not show up at all, with many schools opting to remain closed for the entire day. According to reports, some 25,000 teachers joined Sunday’s action.
The Teachers Union said Sunday in a statement that the agreement would set the pay cut at 0.95% instead of the originally set 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 other reductions in salary raises, promotions, and school benefits, and teachers would get extra vacation days, Hebrew media reported.
Citing their already low salaries, teachers say that they want the pay cut canceled entirely.
Channel 12 reported that the salary cut does not apply to teachers in Haredi schools.
The Times of Israel Community.