Matthew Xuereb
University lecturers do not rule out strike
The union representing university lecturers is not ruling out a strike when the new academic year begins, should talks over the new collective agreement remain deadlocked.
The president of the University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA), Victor Buttigieg told The Times that without the new collective agreement, the university would be downgraded to a "glorified school" and would not be able to achieve the targets it had set.
The clock is ticking fast as the first term is set to open on October 1.
Despite the stalemate, Dr Buttigieg believes that an agreement could well be reached before that date. But he would not rule out the possibility of a strike should the deadlock remain.
Negotiations over the new collective agreement for academic staff had started in May last year, three-and-a-half years after the previous one expired in December 2003. An agreement on the text of the new collective agreement had actually been reached between the unions and the University's negotiating team. But no progress was made on the financial aspect.
On Friday, John Bencini, the president of the Malta Union of Teachers - which along with UMASA is negotiating the new collective agreement for 800 university lecturers and the 200 lecturers at the Junior College - said he seriously doubted whether the university would start the academic year on time, because negotiations had hit the rocks.
Dr Buttigieg would not be drawn into giving details about the package being offered but said that there are "big differences" between what lecturers are asking for and what the University is offering.
The union says its requests are based on what lecturers earn in European universities such as that of Cyprus.
"The government set a target of achieving excellence in tertiary education by 2015. The University has an excellent reputation with regard to the quality of the education but we have to invest in research for this quality to be kept up. And to invest in research, we have to invest in human resources. Achieving targets carries a price," he said.
"I wish we could start the academic year as planned because we want to do our jobs. And we do not wish to involve third parties in the problems we have with the University management. Students already had their fair share of problems at the end of the last scholastic year with the exam results but everyone must understand that we cannot continue waiting," he said. At the beginning of June, academic staff were directed not to submit marks of corrected examination scripts or oral examinations and not to participate in any examination boards.
A number of students were planning a street protest over the action which was however suspended three weeks later following a government promise to submit a counterproposal on a new remuneration package if the unions lifted the directive.
The University has not replied to a request for comment.
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John Spiteri
Sep 22nd 2008, 22:33
Judging by the level of students they're churning out. i dare say they will not be missed one bit..
Jennifer Cassar
Sep 22nd 2008, 20:03
I would recommend to the academics not to bother about trying to respond to the poor arguments imparted by J Farrugia. He doesn't seem to appreciate the value of cultivating knowledge and how the academic arena works. As a University student I can say that the lecturers are of a top quality and should get the pay that they deserve. On the other hand, they also have some flaws, such as lack of individual attention, and clarity and order in teaching, which should be addressed.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2008, 18:55
J Farrugia knows everything about everything.,
He is God's gift to humanity!
J. Bridges
Sep 22nd 2008, 18:00
In regards to what Mr. Farrugia has stated, I have not read that anyone believes they are better than an MD, but it most certainly sounds as though he believes the profession of a medical doctor to be of more importance than that of an academics. I wonder without academics how these doctors would have been trained. I certainly have not heard of anyone being innately born with the knowledge of medicine. I am currently a graduate student and although I am uncomfortable with the idea of a strike I believe it is only fair that professors are allowed to fight for a fair wage. My mother is a professor of business in America and I can assure you that her summer is spent in her office developing new programs and research proposals which bring funding to her university and not sunning herself at the beach. As for freebies... well that is ridiculous. Maybe the next time you ask for a fare wage someone should send you a free text book or two. The double shame is not a professor fighting for a better wage, but rather your demonstration of arrogance and ignorance.
John Betts
Sep 22nd 2008, 14:14
Dear Mr. Farrugia,
conferences are useful in extending your field of knowledge and in making contacts - and thus providing a better service to students and to University. Many research projects, some of which bring in EU funds, are born of these contacts.
I have never stated I am more important than an MD.
Freebies? I am afraid you are not overly familiar with the academic environment.
Quoting your latest post: 'And these .... what shall I call them' - well, call me whatever you like, it will not change whatI am.
Finally, I am an academic, not an 'academic'.
J Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2008, 13:48
The two 'academics' state that lecturers travel to conferences. So the Maltese people have paid for their studies for whole years, they are paying for these conferences, they are paying through their nose all the freebies which go with their career, and all this for their OWN interests. To do what they are being paid to do. BUT the biggest question is this: Do they consider themselves more important than medical doctors? Because after all this is the crux of the matter. The MUT is trying to renew what has been signed some months before the elections, and which Mr Bencini wants to impugn! They want salaries more than the ones that have been given to Doctors so as not to see our Maltese doctors going away from our newly built state of the art. Hospital. And these .... what shall I call them, have the arrogance to equal themselves with MDs.!!! twice shame.
Joseph Galea
Sep 22nd 2008, 12:25
J. Farrugia brings out the old 'chestnut' about summer holidays. Dedicated University professors/lecturers do as much work on their research and teaching preparation in the summer months as they do throughout the academic year. And why cannot academic staff demand a fair wage like everyone else? Requesting a fair wage and desiring to provide students with an excellent education are not mutually exclusive - as J. Farrugia seems to want to imply. On the contrary!
John C. Betts
Sep 22nd 2008, 11:19
Mr. Farrugia, you say that "They (i.e. lecturers) have conveniently forgotten the summer holidays." ; you are quite correct. Many lecturers have in fact forgotten all about summer holidays in order to work on projects, to develop new academic units or degrees, to restructure facilities, to attend conferences (and several meetings as well), to carry out research etc. And it has been (as you say) convenient, because we are not paid for leave not taken. Ah yes, shame.
J Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2008, 10:08
These lecturers appear to be all after the money and not after education. Shame on them. First on the exams and now to continue teaching. They have conveniently forgotten the summer holidays. And what about John Benicini, always preaching gloom and doom. Resign John. We need positive leaders.