Union directive disrupts university admission applications

Students wanting to apply for admission to the University of Malta had to return home yesterday after finding no one to receive their forms, the university's administrative staff having been ordered to strike by their union.

Applications were accepted for the first hour but everything stopped at about 9.30 a.m. when the workers received a directive from the Union Haddiema Maghqudin.

The university said in a statement last night that the industrial action had been lifted.

The union ordered the action to protest at changes to the parking system which it said favoured academic employees to the detriment of technical, administrative and industrial workers.

The union said all this had taken place behind its back and without any consultation.

It said it was also objecting to the delay by the university to sign a new collective agreement. Negotiations on the agreement, the UHM said, had been concluded so further delays were not justified.

It complained that the university had not filled a number of vacancies even though this violated the collective agreement. As this was unacceptable, an industrial dispute was registered with the university.

The union ordered administrative workers not to carry out any work related to admission to the university and all university workers were ordered not to answer telephone calls and e-mails. Although the union initially said it did not exclude stepping up industrial action if the issues remained unsolved, the UHM issued a statement in the evening saying an agreement had been reached with the management of the university.

The UHM said it was agreed that the University Council would meet on July 30 to approve the collective agreement, the university decided to suspend the changes to the parking system and start talks with all parties involved. The university also agreed to fill the vacancies that were still outstanding by August 31.

The university said yesterday that registrations will take place as advertised on Monday.

Applications for all courses will also be accepted on Tuesday between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.  

All students may apply on either of these two days irrespective of their surnames.

Prospective students who for some reason will be unable to register in person, may ask someone else to do so in their stead.

All necessary documentation must be presented.