The future of MUT

Since I announced my intention to contest the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) presidency election many colleagues have expressed their approval for my decision and enquired about my proposals. Despite numerous difficulties I am facing I am encouraged by the conviction that MUT needs reforming and believe I can be the catalyst for such a change.

MUT has remained too traditional in the way it conducts its daily activity. We have a completely different reality from that of past decades especially with the setting up of the colleges system and the present state of industrial relations. This reform in education will eventually completely transform our educational landscape. This will present new challenges for the MUT. We should be participants in this exciting development and pro active in our approach rather than being reactive to decisions taken by others. I believe it is absolutely necessary for MUT to commission professional research to be in a much better position to back its arguments at the negotiating table. We should utilise our membership of the European Trade Union Committee on Education (ETUCE) to facilitate our vision for the present and the future.

In this new reality it becomes imperative that our school delegates are professionally trained to meet better these new challenges at school and college level. The time for learning only by experience has long passed. I am proposing regular training sessions for school delegates during school hours. It will involve a substantial investment by MUT which can be partly financed by tapping EU training funds. An effective school delegate is an asset for any school and therefore also to our employers, not to mention the MUT itself.

As soon as possible a commission needs to be appointed to study ways of reforming the MUT National Council. Such a reform could include the possibility of a particular sector voting exclusively for its sector besides the president.

I strongly believe that we should revert to the situation prevalent until a few months ago in the sense that the MUT president can serve a maximum number of terms. This model has proved very beneficial to european teachers trade unions. Any president should resist the temptation of not returning to school duties.

The time spent as president will surely have served this person well for his or her career progression. It is therefore very important in this scenario that the post of general secretary should be strengthened. The general secretary should play the very important role of chief executive officer of the union in charge of executing the decisions of the National Council under the direction of the president.

Members very often complain of poor communication with MUT. It is imperative in this day of Information Technology for MUT to make much more use of IT in communicating with members and provide online services not merely to affect membership payment but keeping a direct line with members so that assistance will be more immediate.

MUT must jealously continue with its innate mission of safeguarding its members' rights and promoting their interests. This should be done by more skilful and effective negotiation rather than confrontation both at a nationally and at school level. Modern trade unionism demands skilful negotiators. However, MUT should never renounce its right to industrial action both at school and national level as a last resort.

A more democratic approach to taking decisions is needed. Members should feel they are not participants in decision taking. The voice of members must be translated in the decisions taken. Members should not feel decisions are taken behind closed doors and imposed on members. As is common practice in modern trade unions, the MUT's statute needs to be amended so that any future agreements are democratically sanctioned by a general conference.

The last government-MUT agreement needs reviewing as soon as possible and within an agreed timeframe. Most teaching grades feel it is inadequate especially in the light of the on going reforms brought about by the present Reform and anomalies caused by the agreements signed with the medical related unions.

If this reform is to really work, a better deal for all teaching grades is a sine qua non. It is also important that Church and independent schools teaching grades enjoy the benefits as those enjoyed by state employees. We should also keep in mind that we need revised agreements for kindergarten assistants and learning support assistants (facilitators). The concerns of the last group of Instructors need also to be addressed as soon as possible. Successful conclusion to the Mcast and ITS agreements has to be given all due priority.

I invite all MUT members to visit my website www.amicallef debono.com, to find out more about my vision for MUT.

Mr Micallef Debono is head of Ġuże Galea Boys' Secondary School, Qormi. He will be contesting the MUT presidency elections.