Union of Local Authorities chairman Adi Eldar has asked the National Labor Court to postpone by 24 hours the hearing on the issue of restraining orders to striking teachers that was due to be held today. The adjournment followed a request by Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) chairman Ofer Eini, who asked for time to pursue negotiations on the framework agreement he proposed last week.
This morning Eini briefed senior teachers' union leaders on the talks he held with officials at the Ministries of Finance and Education last week, and told them that he came away with the impression that they would be willing to consider his framework agreement for resolving the dispute. This will see high school teachers receiving a 26% incremental pay rise over a number of years in line with the pace of the introduction of the reform, in exchange for their consent to longer working hours.
Following its meeting this morning, the Histadrut's central executive authorized Eini to take whatever steps necessary, including industrial action, in order to bring about a speed resolution to the crisis. He is due to meet the parties involved in negotiations this evening, before deciding what action to take.
Should the Histadrut declare a labor dispute in the event that talks break down, the Labor Court might not allow any strike action to take place on these grounds, since the teachers are not Histadrut members.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on November 4, 2007
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