Chairman of the Association of Secondary School Teachers Ran Erez did not mince words in his response Thursday to a government decision that would require teachers in the public school system to either hold a green pass, showing that they have been vaccinated against COVID or recovered from the virus, or proof of a negative COVID test to be allowed into their places of work.

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According to the decision, teachers not in compliance will not be allowed into the classroom and will not be paid for the missed days.

Erez said that his union was not willing to allow teachers' pay to be withheld and that work from home options should be provided for unvaccinated staff.

"The government's decision didn't come as a surprise. It's been hanging in the air since Sept. 1," Erez said.

"The Association of Secondary School Teachers will never agree to pay being withheld from [teachers] who aren't vaccinated or do not get tested, and suggests they be allowed to work alternate jobs form home – such as giving private lessons on Zoom, teach sick students online, etc."

Erez pointed out that the union had petitioned the High Court of Justice to mandate that secondary school students age 12 and over either be vaccinated or tested before they are allowed onto school premises.

"Students age 15 or 16, like teachers, can spread or contract [COVID] just like a 30-year-old or 40-year-old teacher," Erez said.

The decision to toughen regulations for educators came after a group of experts recommended that the cabinet change public health policies given the spike in COVID cases and deaths this past month.

"The ongoing scope of new cases this past month has taken a heavy toll in human lives," the experts said, adding that "despite the hope that the numbers will drop as a result of the [booster] shot campaign, it is impossible and unreasonable to continue on our current path, and policy changes must be made for the interim until we confirm that the number of serious cases are on a consistent decline," they said.

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The experts said that the government had adopted a policy of "hunkering down" and taken little action to stop the spread of the virus, despite having been warned that this approach was unfeasible.

"Many critical tools in stopping the virus, such as contact tracing, early detection, strict quarantine and enforcement measures, cannot be implemented at a stage where there are 8,000-10,000 new cases a day. The measures to check the spread cannot currently cope with the task," they warned.

The experts called the current tactic of managing the COVID crisis based on the number of patients in serious condition "dangerous."

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On Thursday, negotiations between the lab workers' union and the Treasury fell apart after the two sides failed to reach any understandings.

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While the strike is in effect, labs will provide emergency services only, and lab services will not be available at clinics.

Tests for hospital units (other than lifesaving tests in emergency departments, trauma centers, and intensive care units) will not be processed. Blood work and other tests carried out for non-urgent surgeries will also not be processed. Tests for urgent surgical procedures, women giving birth, and cancer patients will be processed as usual.

However, tests for newborn babies will not be processed, a decision expected to delay the process of releasing mothers and newborns from the hospital.

Labs will continue to process coronavirus tests, but will provide data on positive results only in order to help the authorities cut off outbreaks.

Officials in the Association of Biochemists, Microbiologists, and Laboratory Workers said in response to Health Ministry Director-General Professor Hezi Levy's comment that he hoped the strike would end on Sunday by saying that since Thursday, there had been a "total disconnect" between the workers and the Treasury, and that no additional meetings had been scheduled.

Long before the coronavirus epidemic began in Israel, the country's lab workers were demanding a new pay scale that would offer a starting wage of at least 50 shekels ($14.87) per hour. Currently, newly-hired lab workers with post-graduate degrees earn 31 shekels ($9.22) per hour. However, private labs operated by the My Rating company pay four times as much.

Lab workers are also demanding that the government increase the number of positions, in accordance with population growth and consumption of health care services.

Dr. Raul Kolodner, director of laboratory services at Emek Medical Center in Afula said, "Unfortunately, we have reached the point of declaring an open-ended strike. I would like to ask our partners to show empathy for the lab workers who are fighting for their basic rights, who have been rejected for years. We have no intention of harming patients, and we will do everything possible to avoid putting lives in danger, heaven forbid."

Esther Admon, chairwoman of the Association of Biochemists, Microbiologists, and Laboratory Workers, said, "The government is treating us with contempt and ignoring us, the lab workers, despite the heavy responsibility we have shouldered, and even though we are putting our lives in danger on a daily basis. Our working conditions and pay are some of the most pathetic in Israel. We're ashamed."

The Treasury issued a statement in response: "In recent weeks, there have been negotiations about the laboratory workers' demands. In intensive negotiations thus far, agreements about some of the issues being discussed have been reached.

"On other issues, generous offers were made, but rejected. We regret that despite the agreement signed with the lab workers and the significant raises we gave them for processing corona tests, the association is choosing the take advantage of the situation and go on strike at a time that is very sensitive, both in terms of economics and in terms of public health. We are willing to go back to the negotiating table at any time, and call on the Association of Biochemists, Microbiologists, and Laboratory Workers to join the fight."

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A government source said seven security forces were injured in the protest in the southern city of Karak, with violence breaking out for the first time in an escalating crisis between the authorities and the union that has become a leading source of dissent.

On July 25, the government closed the offices of the 100,000-strong union and suspended its activity for two years, in one of the largest crackdowns on a major dissident group in recent years.

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