Collective agreement talks to start 'in a few weeks'

Michael Saliba, secretary of the University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA), said last Tuesday that in a few weeks' time, negotiations on a new collective agreement for University academic staff will start in earnest. Dr Saliba was addressing members at the UMASA annual general meeting held last Tuesday.

However, he cautioned that all financial arrangements had to be agreed not only with the University authorities but also with the government. He did not rule out the possibility of industrial action.

Seeking to address the frustration currently felt by academic staff, Dr Saliba said the first hurdle was on the brink of being overcome by reaching agreement with the Malta Union of Teachers on a common negotiating proposal. UMASA was now looking forward to talks with the University 'with confidence but at the same time anticipation of new challenges' adding that 'it may very well be that there will be the need to call on the strong support of the administrative academic staff in the coming months'.

He said that UMASA had also been providing input to the National Commission for Higher Education on the proposed provision of support and help to individual academic staff members on individual issues, among other matters.