Government intervention requested earlier this month, unions insist

The union representing university lecturers (Umasa) and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) yesterday said they had requested the university to involve the "highest government authorities" to help solve the impasse over the new collective agreement but to date the request had not been met.

The unions were reacting to comments given to The Times on Friday when an Education Ministry spokesman was asked to confirm whether it had received any such request. The spokesman had then said that the ministry had not received any formal request.

Umasa and the MUT yesterday published a letter dated September 11 to university Rector Juanito Camilleri where they said: "In order to conclude the new collective agreement before the start of the new academic year, we appeal to you to directly involve the highest authorities in government who are able to take a decision without any further delay".

The two unions have a trade dispute with the university over the new collective agreement for academic staff at university and the Junior College.

The union representing university lecturers has said it did not rule out strike action when the new academic year begins on October 1, should talks over the collective agreement remain deadlocked.