[etni] Re: For the past week or so
- From: "Miriam Greif" <mgreif@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <graniewitz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "ETNI" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 07:35:17 +0200
For the past week or so, I have been waging a major battle with my conscience,
and the lines that I am about to write are the result of much deliberation and
observationDear David,
Reading your letter made me very sad... I actually felt that the dynamics of
the strike were going in support of the teachers. The parents, the press, the
general histadrut.
Don't give up now! Something must happen! This situation cannot continue as
is. The teachers are not responsible for the pupils that are not at school.
They have parents. My kids would not become violent even if schools were
closed all year....
If you ask me, I think the histadrut teachers should join the strike, too.
The whole intention of the government is too stretch the time so that the
teachers who have a conscience will break. Don't let them do it to you. The
cause is completely justified and it is most unfortunate that this is the only
way to fight.
Miriam Greif
----- Original Message -----
From: David Graniewitz
To: 'Etni'
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 1:37 AM
Subject: [etni] For the past week or so
For the past week or so, I have been waging a major battle with my
conscience, and the lines that I am about to write are the result of much
deliberation and observation.
Firstly, I must state that I supported wholeheartedly the strike when it
first started. I believed, as I still do, that the education system had reached
a point at which teachers had no choice but to make their voices heard. And
what better way to do so than by downing tools. Over three weeks has passed
since and I have begun to wonder if it is all worth it, if the damage caused is
going to be offset by whatever benefits we and our pupils will reap in the end.
I have come to a decision; if the Labour Court issues injunctions against us,
I will go back to work. I signed a letter of intent to resign at a
demonstration a couple of weeks ago, but even then I was having second
thoughts. I think that I did so out of social pressure as everyone was signing
around me. Call me fickle, but I have seen a lot of herd-following lately.
At the beginning of the strike I wrote an article, published in the Jerusalem
Post complaining that no one really cared about the work done by secondary
school teachers. Despite all the cars honking at us as we stand brandishing our
placards at major junctions around the country, I still don't feel that Israeli
society really gives much of a hoot about us. In fact, we teachers seem to be
in a bit of a pickle; if we take more drastic action to get ourselves noticed
as other pressure groups have done in the past e.g. the handicapped, single
mothers etc. we will get accused of behaving in a way unsuitable for teachers.
If we just stand around chanting inane slogans, the media gets bored and we get
pushed off the news by stories about the Prime Minister's prostate gland or the
death of an entertainer.
As you may have guessed, I have become quite disillusioned with the strike.
This disillusionment has been fortified by the growing realisation that our
union has basically failed in its organisation and in getting our message
across. Consider the following points, if you will:
· The Union sent us out on strike without any plans for demonstrations
or protests. The various demonstrations have come about as a result of the
organisation of groups of teachers themselves without any initiative being
taken by the Irgun. A whole week went past without any attempt to reach the
media.
· There is no strike fund. How long Irgun members will be able to
carry on without a salary is anyone's guess.
· There are union members who are continuing to work throughout the
strike. This is especially true in the religious sector. I suggested setting up
protests in front of schools that were defying the strike. As a teacher in a
religious school, I felt that this was the thing to do. We had to reach
teachers who were working and appeal to their consciences. Although many people
agreed with me this suggestion was turned down for various reasons by the
organizers of the demonstrations.
· The union itself has done nothing to approach strike-breakers and to
explain to them the consequences of their actions. It has the means to sanction
strike-breakers, but this doesn't seem to be on its list of priorities.
· Much of the support for the strike is coming from teachers who are
continuing to get paid during the strike even though they are not working (or
are working only nominally or minimally.) I am referring to members of the
Histadrut or non-affiliated teachers who work in schools which are not
operating because of the strike. These people are having their cake and eating
it. In spite of the disgruntlement felt by many Histadrut members because of
the agreement signed with the government, we have not witnessed a mass
desertion of that union's ranks and a swelling of our own. I don't know how
many of these people there are but I have personally told a few Histadrut
members at demonstrations that if they continue to receive their salaries they
are not supporting our struggle, no matter how loud they shout and how many
banners they wave.
My fear is that, taking all these points into account, we might witness a
scenario wherein striking Irgun teachers, especially the older ones, will feel
hesitant about supporting the continuation of the strike because of financial
reasons. The strike however will continue because of the support given by
teachers who are continuing to get paid. This will be a blatantly unfair
situation.
I think that the time has come when we must ask ourselves how long we are
prepared to strike and at what cost. I hate to be too cynical but I think that
this strike has taken on a dynamic of its own and there might just be a few
people with vested interests in keeping it going for as long as possible.
I am awaiting the slings and arrows that will no doubt be coming my way. I
just can't help feeling that I am betraying my calling with each passing day of
the strike.
Shavua Tov
David
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