— Israeli teachers were expected to begin a new wave of job actions today to protest a conditional decision by the Cabinet on their new wage contract. The “sanctions” would amount to a halving of teaching hours and would continue indefinitely, according to the teachers union. Some classes would end at 11 a.m. and others would begin at that hour instead of the normal 8 a.m. starting time.
The teachers were incensed because a majority of the Cabinet decided yesterday to endorse the new wage contract only if the national labor court rules that it does not run counter to the “framework agreement” which governs wage increases and is binding on all public sector employees.
The government feared that without a court ruling other employee groups would demand immediate wage hikes on a level with the 14 percent plus fringe benefits just won by the teachers.
Education Minister Zevulun Hammer opposed the condition and urged a no-strings endorsement of the contract worked out by the teachers union and government representatives last week. Hammer, a leader of the National Religious Party, told reporters that he would meet with Premier Menachem Begin today on the issue and would then “consider his future.”
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