Israeli university professors have ended a one-week strike on the promise of continued negotiations on their salary demands and an interim pay hike of 4.8 percent.
More than 100,000 university students returned to their classrooms after faculty members agreed Monday to a government offer of an interim increase in return for an immediate return to work.
Under the agreement, Finance Ministry officials will meet on an ongoing basis with university executives and faculty until the conflict is resolved.
The professors claim their current wage agreement does not take into account the many professionals who are paid more under personal contracts.
The existing accord links their salaries to those of civil service professionals.
Students, academics and university administrators all expressed relief upon hearing that the strike had ended.
“Everyone is happy it’s over,” said one Hebrew University student.
“If it had dragged on any longer, the students would have had to make up the time on Fridays or during Passover break. This way, it’s business as usual.”
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