In the latest maneuver in the secondary school teachers' strike, ongoing for more than 40 days, the State filed a motion with the Labor Court on Tuesday seeking an injunction that would force the teachers back to work. Representatives of the Ministries of Finance and 
"The other side is not prepared to end the dispute, nor is it deterred by the irreversible damage." -- from the State's motion
Education said that the possibility of a negotiated settlement is not within reach at present.
In their request, the Ministries' representatives wrote, "Unfortunately, the feeling accompanying the negotiators representing the State is that the other side is not prepared to end the dispute, nor is it deterred by the irreversible damage that has already been caused by the ongoing strike, which is becoming more severe by the hour." In addition to the request for an injunction, the motion calls for the Labor Court to convene and resolve the dispute as soon as possible.
The Secondary School Teachers' Association (SSTA) argued before the court that the judiciary has no authority to force its teachers back to work.
Yossi Wasserman, chairman of the teachers division of the Histadrut nationwide union, offered to mediate between the government and the rival teachers' union in an effort to end the strike. Two different organizations represent Israel's teachers and the current strike does not include members of the Histadrut. On Sunday evening, representatives of the government met with SSTA negotiators in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the longest school strike in Israel's history to an end. The meeting was held in the offices of Ofer Eini, who heads the Histadrut.
In a meeting with members of the SSTA in Carmiel on Monday, Education Minister Yuli Tamir said there are "few issues still in dispute," but she warned that teachers must "see the bigger picture" or risk the collapse of the educational system. Tamir said that some demanded reforms in education, such as the reduction of class size and improved conditions for teachers, could take years to implement.
Teachers responded by accusing Tamir of working with the Finance Ministry and not with the teachers. SSTA members explained that they wanted higher salaries and better conditions not only for themselves, but in order to save the education system by attracting talented young teachers. One teacher told Tamir that, while she loves her profession, she has warned her daughter to avoid teaching at all costs.
Salary demands have dropped several times over the last month.
According to the government's latest motion, Minister Tamir committed to adding 100 million more classroom hours during 2008, as well as to developing a long-term plan including additional teaching hours and smaller classes. The state also said that its negotiators agreed to a proposal put forth by the Histadrut's Eini, which included a pay raise of 8.5% over the course of one and a half years, linked to an agreed upon partial reform of the entire education system.
The SSTA salary demands have dropped several times over the last month, with teachers initially seeking a 20% increase. In subsequent talks, the SSTA dropped their demands to a 15% increase and, most recently, to 13.5%.