After months of negotiations the teachers of the local United Talmud Torahs have declared a strike. Not having received their salaries regularly for the last six months the teachers have finally decided to leave their class rooms and not return until something definite is done to ameliorate the aggravated condition of the Talmud Torah finances. Twenty-eight teachers and 1,400 children are affected.
The United Tamud Torahs are indebted to the teachers for salaries besides the heavy mortgage and debt that they carry on the new Educational Institute which has recently been erected. The economic depression has played havoc with the chances of the Talmud Torahs to obtain the necessary means for maintenance. Many who pledged large contributions for the new building were unable to redeem their pledges after the crash and the following crisis helped increase the number of pupils who had to receive free tuition. Much hope was placed on the subsidy of the Jewish Community Council, but this grant is being balked by the attitude of the Shochetim who refuse to part with a small share of their income; they even demand 66% of the income from the meat tax. Seeing no prospects to better their position in the future and being unable to continue their struggle for bare existence, the teachers took the only alternative and went out on strike.
In an effort to clarify the situation the executive committee of the United Talmud Torahs issued the following statement:
“The closing of the United Talmud Torah Schools, due to the inability of the teaching staff to continue their work of education, until some payment is made on account of their overdue salaries, is very deeply regretted by the Executive Committee of the United Talmud Torahs. The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors have endeavored to do everything in their power to avoid this ‘Chillul Hashem’ but found the situation beyond its control.
“The United Talmud Torahs have suffered by this depression more than any other communal institutions. In the best of times, the income of Talmud Torah was hardly adequate to meet the needs of Jewish education which the Community has entrusted to us. The last several months have been especially trying. Much as the Executive Committee sympathizes with the teachers in their plight, it has no available resources to draw upon immediately. It is because of these facts that there is now due several months’ salaries to the teachers.
“The Executive Committee desires,
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