Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On has agreed to meet with representatives of the Secondary School Teachers Association, which has held a three-weeks long strike affecting most of the nation’s high schools. Association head Ran Erez had argued for some time that Bar-On’s participation was crucial, but according to Erez, Bar-On refused to meet with the teachers, preferring to send lower-ranking officials to negotiations.
Bar-On, Erez, and Education Minister Yuli Tamir will meet on Wednesday for a round of negotiations mediated by Adi Eldar, the head of the Center for Local Government. The teachers have demanded a better salary and working conditions, arguing that current conditions are driving talented young teachers away from the field. The teachers have also expressed opposition to government plans to change the system of education.