GWU in sympathy action with MUT

The General Workers' Union yesterday instructed members who are kindergarten assistants, facilitators, instructors and teachers to report for work an hour late tomorrow in a show of support with the Malta Union of Teachers in its stand on violence against teachers and staff.

The GWU directive is similar to the one issued by the MUT during a rally held two weeks ago in solidarity with a geography teacher who was attacked by a 14-year-old student last month.

The student was suspended from St Joseph Lyceum, Paola, but is expected to return tomorrow. All schools, with the exception of special schools, have been directed by the MUT to open their doors an hour late.

The Education Ministry yesterday put the onus on heads and assistant heads to report for work on time and ensure that the students were ushered into school at the time that schools normally open. The ministry said the police will be on stand-by to control the traffic and ascertain that the students will not be exposed to any danger.

"The education authorities are informing parents that Thursday is a normal school day. School transport will also be operating as usual," the ministry said. The ministry made the statement after the MUT confirmed it will be going ahead with its action irrespective of the meeting held between the two sides last week on the way forward over school violence.

In a statement late yesterday, the MUT said it felt aggrieved at the Ministry of Education's directive for schools to open on time as usual tomorrow.

The union said it considered such action as "intimidation" to the heads and assistant heads of schools. Such a decision undermines the liberty of such grades to follow the union's directive issued after the MUT declared an industrial action, as it is legally empowered to do, the union said.

"This is a serious threat to the right of association that reminds the MUT council of the days when there was a threat to the rights of workers."

The MUT council considers this move by the ministry as a confrontation and a challenge. It made it clear it did not want the issue to escalate, an issue which, the union said, resulted from lack of goodwill by the ministry.

The union said it will hold the Minister responsible if the dispute intensifies.