Histadrut National Federation leaders planned to meet Sunday to decide whether to declare a sympathy job action in support of the weeks-long Secondary School Teachers' Association strike over a dispute with the government over wages and working conditions.

Union chairman Ofer Eini warned last week the group might consider actions ranging from limited job slowdowns and other sanctions, up to the possibility of a full-scale walkout by workers in the public sector. There would be a two-week delay between any vote to carry out such action, and its actual implementation.

High school teachers remained out of the classrooms despite a petition by the Education and Finance Ministers requesting the National Labor Court to force them back to the schools. Hundreds of striking teachers responded by signing letters of resignation which they threatened to submit in the event the court ruled in favor of the government's petition.