Closed Garden: Will We Soon Have to Deal with a Nursery Strike? - Voila! money

A new organization is gaining momentum among the assistants. Will we soon witness a return of disruptions in kindergartens? (Photo: ShutterStock)

Against the background of the negotiations taking place between the Local Government Center, the Maof Federation and the Ministry of Finance for the final formulation of Phase 1 of the new wage reform for kindergarten aides and education supporters, a new protest has been born among the aides that is gaining momentum. In a petition circulated over the weekend, signed by 400,6 aides out of 500,8, they strongly oppose the agreement.

At the end of February, Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David and Histadrut HaMaof Chairman Gil Bar-Tal announced that they had reached agreements in principle with the Ministry of Education regarding a broad reform in the salaries of assistants in kindergartens, schools and special education, including a track for advancement, vocational training, and a change in the wage system and level.

At the beginning of March, the Histadrut published the details, which include, among other things, raising the basic salary of education and special education support providers to NIS 000,7, of close aides to NIS 000,7, and of kindergarten assistants to NIS 200,600. In addition, additional benefits were discovered, such as an additional NIS 1 for an aide who will not be absent from work, an annual grant of NIS 000,10 for an aide who has been absent for 200 sick days or less, and an additional NIS <> for replacing a kindergarten teacher.

Aides demonstration 8 years ago. Will the prolonged struggle of one of the most deprived sectors of the economy reach a happy ending? (Photo: Niv Aharonson)

These conditions arouse anger among a significant number of the aides, who went on a surprise strike a few months ago, without coordination with the Histadrut and against its opinion.

"The agreement to employ education supporters, which is currently being formulated, will severely harm the entire sector that dedicates its work to the future of Israel's children," the petition states.

"We demand the amendment of the current agreement." The aides claim that the agreements reached are an eyesore, because they are conditional on a full-time job, 42 hours a week, a position that most assistants do not reach.
And since all salary increases are conditional on full-time, the aides will have to work even during vacations, when the entire education system is on vacation. The incentive plan agreed upon is conditional on not being absent from work, and according to them, sick days, or children's illness, will also be considered absence and will violate their rights.

"In practice, the current agreement that has been signed and is being formulated is an eyesore and a severe blow to those who chose to work in grinding and demanding work – to educate the future generation in Israel, without recognition, at very low wages and without accompanying conditions. Education supporters no longer be led by external interests, which try to make their fortunes at our expense."

The aides claim inappropriate representation in their case and demand that the negotiations be suspended until the emerging outline is clarified, which was presented to them only in part, and only in some of the local authorities.

In addition, they demand to be part of the negotiations, through a broad representation of all types of educational supporters, and to adapt their employment conditions to the conditions of Israeli educators during vacations, significant seniority additions, incentives, a sabbatical year and vocational training.

If they are not granted, the aides hint that all options are on the agenda, including the shutdown of their work, which has disrupted the daily routine of many families in Israel.

However, there are those who assume that not only the welfare of the aides is on the agenda, but also a struggle of "competing" workers' organizations:Attorney Gil Bar-Tal, chairman of the Mauf Federation, said in response:

"An organization of the Histadrut Leumi that promises mountain and hill aides without cover sows disinformation without knowing the agreement.
The agreement is in the drafting stages. It includes wage reform and a wage increase of tens of percent. When we reach understandings on all issues and the assistants understand the magnitude of the hour, they will be very pleased. Not all stages are reflected in their salary and are fed by rumors.
The workers' committees and the representatives of the assistants in the committees who understand the agreement welcome it."

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Tags

• Aides
• Kindergartens
• The Education System
• organization