High school teachers, Education Ministry hold pedagogic negotiation meeting to discuss gov't's reform plan rather than salaries.
By EHUD ZION WALDOKSran erez 224.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
The government and the country's striking teachers settled into a day of meetings on Wednesday, but there was little chance of an end to the more-than-month-long strike.
The high school teachers and the Education Ministry held a pedagogic negotiation meeting Wednesday evening to discuss the government's reform plan rather than salaries. Education Ministry Dir.-Gen. Shlomit Amihai and her professional team, alongside a professional team from the Treasury, met with Secondary School Teachers Organization (SSTO) head Ran Erez and his professional team.
The SSTO, the Treasury and the Education Ministry are expected to resume salary negotiations on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Senior Lecturers Union (SLU) met with Cabinet Secretary Ovad Yehezkel at his invitation on Wednesday.
After the meeting, SLU head Prof. Tzvi HaCohen said, "We responded to the cabinet secretary's invitation, and we recounted our point of view. However, there is no change, and the strike continues."
Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday. Yehezkel got involved after the Conference of University Presidents (CUP) sent a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday urging him to get directly involved. The CUP also said they would give the data on professors' salaries to the Treasury on Thursday.
The SLU plans to hold a demonstration at noon on Thursday, beginning at the Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus and proceeding to the Finance Ministry.
