MK Rav Yaakov Litzman has been fighting the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies on behalf of teachers affiliated with Chinuch Atzmai. Because of his tenacious efforts, the teachers will now receive a salary and benefits package commensurate with civil service employees. This will impact many areas of an employee benefits including clothing allowance, vacation and sick days, pension plans, and much more.

Finance Ministry officials called to reject the package since Chinuch Atzmai employees will not be recognized as state employees. Ministry officials explain that being state employees entitles civil servants to the benefit package and salary and since this is not the case regarding Chinuch Atzmai employees, they are not entitled to the same.

Litzman however was not deterred and he continued his battle, going from one government office to another on behalf of the Chinuch Atzmai employees.

It appears that two teachers who took leaves of absence, which were given without pay, led to Litzman’s battle for equality. Now, with the new agreement in place, the two teachers also received money owed to them from those leaves of absences.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)