In a statement, the management of Ben Gurion University said that it was “puzzled” at the planned strike of the university's academy programs by junior staff, planned for this week. In a statement, the university said that “for over a month we have been conducting serious negotiations with the junior staff leadership. The talks have been going well, and we are very surprised at the sudden announcement of a strike.”
The junior staff said that it is protesting its current contract, which it says is unfair. In a statement, the staff's union said that their status was “worse than that of contract workers,” and that they were determined to fight to improve the terms of their employment.