University, Junior College lecturers to strike tomorrow

M.Bugeja.

They might deserve an increase but not that high! For the standard of living we are into that pay is way too high. If they spent 6 years, 7 years studying other people spend those years working and studying. If people want a good salary go and live abroad, but please stop pushing the government to give you what he cannot. Everyone studies and everyone finds a job with the better salary. Lecturers are no exception. They already have a good salary.

The people that are not happy with there wage should go somewhere else. At the end of the day the majority of the lecturers have another job, so these people are only showing their greediness.

The only factor that came out from this strike is the greediness of these people, which in my opinion they continued to give a bad name.

M Bugeja,

I'm a post grad, and since i have all those fancy letters after my name i demand to be allowed to do nothing all summer and get paid twice as much as someone who works hard day after day after day. What planet did you just land from? Going to university doesnt give a god given right to earn loads of money and call yourself 'elite', it provides the opportunity to learn skills and form your own opinions if you work hard enough to achieve it. Hard work is what the majority of those in the real world (i.e. outside Malta) have to do to get a decent pay.

And who could be any more informed than the students who turn up at university to find their lecturers on strike, or their lecturer coudldnt be bothered turning up or their lecture was the exact same thing they saw on the internet last night?

Wake up.

With reference to Sam Agius's comment, I am not on the lecturers side. I am on the student side. I want good lecturers, not lecturers who come only because they are unable to find work elsewhere at better pay. Give them the pay!!

I can see many on the lecturers' side. Many Luca Cordinas that is.

I wonder from which faculty and department he comes. I've never heard anyone speaking so highly of all the lecturers in one particular course and it was certainly not my experience while studying there either. The lecturers who delivered a proper lecture were very few.
The ones who simply read out their notes in monotone and the ones who didn't turn up, outnumbered by far the good lecturers.

Plagiarism is also quite frankly blatant. The number of times I typed in a phrase from the whole "speech" in Google and managed to find all the lecture's slides and explanations online, word for word, on a website belonging to some other university was unbelievable.

"Why do THEY deserve a pay raise?"

"What makes THEM so special?"

"Who are THEY to demand more money?"

..and the funny thing is... most of you would complain if your boss didn't give you a raise at the end of the year.

How many of you have pursued your degrees at the University? How many are actually post-grads? How many of you have a PhD? Anyone? Show of hands, please. I'm merely someone who's working for their post-grad, and I support the lecturers 100%. They work hard, and yes, some of them give the rest a bad name. But I'm not going to sit back and watch as the whole country plays the "I know I'm very well informed" card and paint everyone with the same brush.

We really have to stop being this ignorant, and start appreciating that anyone with a PhD (for example) spent at the very least 6-7 years in a university or another STUDYING and writing dissertations and assignments. They've worked for it, and they have skills which few others have as a percentage of our country. Thus, they deserve a higher wage.

Hmmm, I keep seeing the same words, University Lecturers and other Lecturers including Junior College & MCAST lecturer's pays are pathetic. May I ask compared to where? Is there another institute/college in Malta (Public) which pays more to their lecturers? Obviously these pays are being compared to pays oversees.

Welcome to the real world, where the country you are in, is the country you get! I'm not telling you to leave Malta for a better pay, and I agree, they are entitled to a higher pay being university lecturers, but doesn't everyone? The cost of living has increased for everyone, while our pays have not. But I mean the pay rise for Professors and Senior Lecturers have been fairly good pay when you compare it to the average salary especially!

The bloody world economy is going to hell, America is on the verge of a recession which may take the rest of the world down with it, and maltese lecturers are demanding a higher pay increase above their adequate pay which is already fair for a decent standard of living while the rest of the world holds it's breath inworry.

What world are you living on?

Behind every successful student in the UOM and the Junior College, there is surely a group of successful teachers.

These lecturers deserve something reasonable. If the government truly wants to be in full conformity with the EU levels, it would be appropriate not to ignore these very important teaching pillars.

I used to work as a university lecturer. I never missed a lesson and always gave my 100%.
I am (still) also highly involved in state-of-the-art research work. However, now I no longer work at UoM. Maybe that says it all.

@Liam Kelly,
I don't think that your comment is fair. Some Maltese lectures have taught abroad with great success. Both in Malta and abroad you find students who work and those who don't. Unlike what you might think, the reasons that many lecturers don't leave Malta are certainly not the ones that you mentioned.
I have attended classes in Malta where lecturers have been called names that I will not repeat here and have to tolerate arrogant attitudes from students. So unless one gives a balanced picture of the situation it is not fair to write sweeping statements.

@ Luca Cordina - "I’m sorry no lecturer is here to do that for you (as some other people here expect them to do that), here you have to do things yourself."

What on earth are you going on about? Do what for me ? I only ask that lecturers attend lectures and do so in a dilligent manner. Am I asking for anything special?

Funny thing is the whole of university is striking but I still have a sole lecture tomorrow !

@ Andrew Sciberras

I don't really see how you can justify a pay rise as a solution to underperformance in any profession let anlone one as important as teaching.

The right to strike is not in question here; but what should always be questioned is the rationale behind each strike and whether or not it is an acceptable action based on those who it will affect and the severity of the situation....and its fair to say that this particular strike action fails miserably on both counts there.

You mention the state of the economy; so lets analyse what got the economy (worldwide) into such a mess....greed for more money. Banks giving loans to people with absolutly no ability to pay it off, people and companies spending way beyond their means in order to make the most of ridicilously low interest rates. And yet you try to justify a pay rise in such harsh economic times? None of the rest of us are getting a pay rise, so why should you?

Does Mr Bencini know what we as ordinary workers get paid for an honest 40 hour week? Pittance!!! Compared to University lecturers. My son tells me that most of the time these lecturers either postpone or do not turn up for their lectures. The government should give a breakdown of the number of times each lecturer has not attended for his duty!!!

I read the unions' request and the Govt.'s proposals. It seems that the former represent the greed of the teaching staff as Govt.s offer seems reasonable enough,considering the finances of the Govt and also one has to take into consider the number of hours worked. Govt should stick to its offer come what may as it had done with lower section of workers.

@ S. Galea

Well, if I remember correctly, students at JC have a certain form to fill should they be absent. This time round I think it will not be the case. If it is, however, just resort to it.

I doubt many will go to classes as students know of the strike. Hence, for such reason, if some lecturer turns up, absenteeism, (only this time) will be justified.

In addition to all this, a day's absenteeism will not affect your stipend. Of course, you shouldn't resort to such a thing every time, as apart from the stipend, you would be missing lectures - which is much worse. If I were in you I would ask my friends what they will be doing. Plus, follow tonight's news for further notice. I presume, however, that since they called a strike, we are meant not to go, and that’s justifiable. Undoubtedly, if you want to drop by and see what’s on at JC you can do that. I think they still put the day’s absent teacher and notices on the TVs.

As a student myself, I have the same question as "s. galea". Should I still go to Junior College tomorrow? Are all the lecturers striking or will some still turn up? I asked some of the lectures themselves and they were less than helpful. I dont want to lose any lectures if some of them are going to be held in the first place. Losing a day's stipend is not important. It's such a shame that students have become involved in it!

as a student I'd like to ask just one thing, should we still go to junior college tomorrow? are all the lecturers striking or will some still turn up? and to those who stay home because of the strike, will there be any repurcussions on our stipends for missing lessons?

I think it is a shame that a number of students are so quick to call the right to strike or protest as appalling and shameful behavior. Students should be the prime catalysts for change and not defenders of the status-quo and abroad they would be the first movement to offer support to their lecturers - but this is Malta.

Yes, unfortunately a number of lecturers aren't as productive as they should be. However I believe that there is a reason behind this problem and that every problem has a solution. I think a wage increase is in order (especially when cost of living is sky-rocketing) and this will boost productivity. It is not fair that whist expenditure is steadily increasing, the lecturer (who is a worker like everybody else) finds no offset to this with reasonably higher income even if it is not exactly proportionate. However, it must not stop there. If needs be regulatory authorities should be stricter with those who persist in not taking things seriously.

The fact that government funds are depleted and that the economy is in a mess is no reason to stay mute when our education is at stake.

@ I. Zerafa

Please, don't fall on such pathetic grounds. I just said that students can't be spoon-fed, especially at these levels.

You aren't implying that lecturers should spoon-feed us, are you? If that is what you are saying, I really do not know how to answer you. Lecturers are there to guide us, to put us on the right track. Read and correct our assignments (some 150, each and every single time.) Help us. Prepare for the lecture to be delivered and much, much more. But come on, one cannot expect a lecturer to print out the notes and give them to the students. We aren't at secondary schools anymore.

"...I’m sorry no lecturer is here to do that for you (as some other people here expect them to do that), here you have to do things yourself." ..since students have to do things "themselves", i ask, for what extra duties are the lecturers demanding the raise?? if students (and i quote you again) "..are meant to fend for ourselves, at least now that we turned 18"!! why should there be any lecturers anyway??

@ Jennifer Cosaitis

“I have truly tried to understand what makes you think this way but I honestly can't. You are the only person here to be in favour of the lecturers' appalling bahaviour; hence my assumption that this cannot be the UOM you are talking about.” – Quoting you.

Are you for real?? Am I the only person on their side? And you claim to be a University student? Please, scroll down the whole page and restart reading the postings. You might want to change what you wrote. Really Jennifer, many others are on their side. Just re-check. I’m sorry no lecturer is here to do that for you (as some other people here expect them to do that), here you have to do things yourself.

@ Jessica Cosaitis

well said! I could not believe the arrogance of lecturers when i came here to study; in the UK i can't even recall one lecture being missed.

The reason that Maltese lecturers dont go abroad to get higher wages is because they know they'd never be allowed to get away with that type of time waisting nonsence and none of them are good enough to control a classroom outside Malta, where teachers REALLY have to earn their corn due to the generally less committed and attentive students.

@ S. Bugeja

Yeah, that wording satisfies me :) There is always room for improvement, of course. xD

I know this comment may lead to controversy, but if we want good lecturers, we need to increase their pay. No good lecturer will work at the university if the pay in the industry is twice as much! To do so there is only way - make students pay. It is about time that Malta follows the British university model. I am a student myself, who believes that the only way to increase quality at the university of malta is by making students pay. In this way students will appreciate more the University and would expect better quality education. Whoever does not have the income to pay, should be given a one time grant or a loan to be repaid back upon employment. And no, I do not support the 1996 government.

@ Mr. I. M. Dingli

"I guess Euro 33k for 9 months work is good enough" - Only Professors get that amount. Lecturers get far less. It says in the article we are discussing hereunder :/ The majority of the teaching staff at Uni are lecturers and not Professors.

I have truly tried to understand what makes you think this way but I honestly can't. You are the only person here to be in favour of the lecturers' appalling bahaviour; hence my assumption that this cannot be the UOM you are talking about.

@ Ms. Bugeja

Firstly, to make it clear, I am not a lecturer (though thanks for the promotion)

I only corrected Mr. Farrugia, as there might be some other organisation with the term he incorrectly spelt.

Really, this is flabbergasting. I have never been told I feel superior to others. In fact, I don’t. But thanks for pointing that one out, dear Ms. Bugeja. Perhaps when someone doesn’t agree with many people, and won’t change his views to please, he is seen as superior. Well, I’m definitely not. I post my modest opinions as the others do. With only one difference: I post opinions while other post some pitiable statement pretending it’s some cast-iron fact.

Considering that 90% of the lecturers have other jobs - consultancy, etc etc ....do they really need the money? Or it's just a matter of the more you have the more you want????

It is evident that there are some on this blog who are very bitter verging on envious, perhaps? of this country's academic body. Several bloggers claim to be students. These are getting paid to study compared to their European counterparts who have to pay hefty university tuition fees. Yet despite paying our youths to pursue tertiary education, Malta is still lowest iranks in terms of number of students attending tertiary education. Perhaps this says something about the Maltese students some of whom are showing total arrogance towards the academic staff whilst EXPECTING to be paid to study! So before these student bloggers complain they might do well to examine their own conscience. Surely, despite the lack in a few members of the academic body (as is unfortunately normal in any other profession), the majority have spent thousands of euros to further their education and obtain their expertise in order to be able to impart it on today's students. This, apart from the financial expense, is coupled with great family and personal sacrfices particularly if they had to follow their post grad studies abroad. If anything the university is lacking in marketing the achievements of many of the academics.

To my knowledge, at University there are only a handfull of professors, the majority are lecturers (senior) and assistant lecturers. So stop building arguments around the 33k amount, the majority are getting less and with what the government is proposing will not reach that amount. Plus ppl are forgetting that the present agreement is more then 5 years outdated and that the new needs to cater for the future as well.

@ Jennifer Cosaitis

I really have no lecturers in the family; not even remotely related to them. I have no reason for which I want to look pretty, as I will ultimately gain nothing of it. If you are again one of those who think I will get some favour out of it, then you are mistaken, Jennifer. I just respect my lecturers. My first year was quite a cool one, and that is in part thanks to the great lecturers I had. Well, it must depend on the department then, as my lecturers were quite reachable and willing to help. And NO, they didn’t skip lessons. When they had to skip any because of some circumstance, another lecturer used to give us his lecture twice that week and than the week after we would have had two lectures with that lecturer who had to be absent the week before.

@Ryan Schembri

Well put!

And please..rather than attacking grammatical correction..discuss the argument. Try to learn how to discuss not how to feel superior.

There goes the lecturer again. Jennifer Cosaits..you should have included that in your comment as well..maybe he is a lecturer himself :)

You know Luca Cordina, it is lecturers with your kind of behaviour that instil this kind of opinion in SOME and not ALL students. Hope that kind of wording satisfies you :)

@ Luca Cordina

Errrrmmmm.... Did I degrade lecturers? Did I say they do not work hard? Did I say they should not be compensated accordingly? I wonder how you contrived to understand that my comments mean that I envy lecturers. All I noted was how your comments are disrespectful to other professions, and quite childish and naive. Your comment about J.Farrugia misspelling UMASA further underlines how childish your comments are.

Just to put the record straight I am against collective bargaining, but that is my opinion. I think in this case, it means that good lecturers are not getting what they deserve and the bad lecturers (yes they exist Luca Cordina) are getting more than they should. I believe that lecturers' wages should be determined on an individual basis, based on experience, standing, publications, research, qualifications, etc...

@ S. Bugeja

“No we still don't think lecturers deserve more pay than offered by the government.” – Please Ms. Bugeja, do not be that impertinent. Just say YOU don’t think they don’t deserve a higher pay. You can’t say WE, as I for one utterly disagree with you. Try learning how to construct an opinion and not some generic unsubstantiated statement.

SHameful!!! The sutdents should protest at the disastrous level of teaching that they are getting form these excellent paid professors. As an ex University Science student I can still remember the horrendous track record some professors had..80%failure, 75% faliures every year!!

Because how can they cope with their load of private work and university work???

Shameful!!!

@ Luca Cordina you're either trying to look very pretty or else have a university lecturer in the family because I highly doubt you and the rest of us attend the same university by the way you speak so highly of them

It is spelt UMASA and not MASA.

There goes the reason he agrees with lecturers. Probably can't help lecturing yourself. And no it is not an accusation, but an observation.

@ Tiziana Pace

I did try to explain that out, but to no avail. Certain people just have an obsolete idea of lecturers (anyone in the teaching profession for that matter, and just want to stick to it. No matter how much they're proven wrong. They just see the lecturing bit; the other stuff lecturers have to take care of doesn't exist to them.

Moreover, everyone seems to be saying that they get €31,881, whilst this article clearly says that only professors do. They are just treating the subject as anyone gets that amount. (This is much less than professors actually deserve. Let alone the lecturers' pay then.)

@ J. Farrugia

It is spelt UMASA and not MASA. Well, if you feel you are not getting what you deserve, then strike. If you will have plausible reasons (like the lecturers do) I will agree with you as well.

To have a university of excellence you have to pump in money! Then we should not have got in the EU on the first place.
Most of the lecturers are worthy of higher wage. When I had difficulties they always replied promptly to my emails even outside working hours! Their work also requires answering students' personal difficulties. So I can't blame them for striking.

This constant comparing with other jobs and professions in ridiculous.. Anyone can use that kind of argument to make his own argument look more favourable! Any job can look underpaid when compared to any other job with higher pay ! ! No we still don't think lecturers deserve more pay than offered by the government. No one is saying they deserve less than that..but not more either. And we do not like it that they abuse of students to do that. What about results still not published? Assignments not handed back? Lecturers not turning up than cramming the lecture elsewhere? Snobbish behaviour by certain lecturers? Lecturers not duly delivered?

We will not ask for money, we ask for respect.

@ L. Buhagiar

Haha, good one :) But believe me, I needn't do this to get a good mark! I strived during my 1st year and got really good results. And, rest assured, they sincerely do not give students more marks than they deserve for such things. I am just saying that TO ME, they do deserve more. I just expressed my modest opinion, and did not accuse anyone as some others in here did. People should really learn how to construct an opinion rather than posting some pitiable statement, as if what they are saying is some cast-iron fact. (Not referred to you, but to the others.)

First and foremost don't try and compare university professors to plasterers. That is plain old stupid. to become a full professor you have to have a masters which takes 2 to 5 years, you have to teach at the university for minimum 15 yrs and publications in magazines of respective subject must also be done. So to get to the 30,000 euros a year they had to study and work for it at least 20 years. Apart from that the government knows that they are not being paid well because they made a deal at the end of 2003 with the lecturers! Also we are now in the European union, so why shouldn't the government give pays according to EU? If we are now members we have to accept all the packages and not the ones the government thinks are best for him. They took us in now do your jobs pls!!! So everybody stop acting stupid and let them do their strike they earn it!

@ Ryan Schembri

I don’t know how you did interpret it, but the way you did was surely not the way I meant it.

I only made a comparison so as to demonstrate how much lecturers need to study and how many exams they have to undergo before being able to satisfy the requisites their post entails. In no way did I say that plasterers and so on have an easy job. Far from it. Nevertheless, you can’t say that lecturers just have a “nice job” which entails no skills. It is a cast-iron fact that to bear so many students at once is no easy joke. People, like yourself, who perceive it that way really degrade lecturers. God, they are professors; they worked their tail off all their life in order to get there. They teach the people who are to be this island’s future. Is it so hard to fathom? Or (most probably) is it because stubbornness and envy make it rather impossible for you guys to get?

I think most part of the general public (including students) has no idea to what a lecturer's work involves. A lecturer has more duties than just lecturing - his work includes research and publications, coordinating and researching on different projects (EU and non-EU), supervision of thesis, preparing for lectures and other course related administration. So no, lecturers don't only work for 2 or 4 hours a week!

About the proposed salaries - please a manager in the industry gets paid more than a university professor! It's ridiculous! If the salary increase won't be satisfactory for them, then most academic staff will either end up working abroad in some other university or go to the industry. Then we'll see how the education system will have to cope. Look at what happened with doctors and their shortage...

I also want to add that in my 4 years of undergrad studies, at most a lecturer didn't turn up on three occasions. And every time another lecture was set up to make up for the missed one.

I guess Euro 33k for 9 months work is good enough

@Luca Cordina

It seems that you want a good mark in the exams to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Luca Cordina

I am sorry that I have not explained myself well. What I meant to say is that.. They use the same notes every year! It's not like they have to change notes, look up things, plan the lessons bla bla bla every year!! So which part is the hard work that deserves more than they get? I do NOT pretend to be at primary school..I pretend that you do not use this excuse to attack my argument. That's primary school age behaviour. I totally agree with Ryan Schembri. " If the lecturers want to earn as much as plasterers they can go and work as plasterers instead of in their nice jobs" Of course they have a right to complain..But not to involve students in it!!

Why should the gov fork out more money to uni lecturers? Has anyone of you been to a university lecture lately? The lectures are poorly delivered by people who are clearly out-dated in their knowledge and lack any kind of personality or charisma. Some others don't even bother showing up!

@ Luca Cordina

Just so this is clear I am a University graduate, I work in a nice office and have never plastered in my life. Your argument (and anyone else's) that since a plasterer earns so much that a lecturer should earn more is naive. If the lecturers want to earn as much as plasterers they can go and work as plasterers instead of in their nice jobs. I could earn more as a plasterer but I don't want to do that work. Good for them if they earn more than me! That is how the market works. If this is the kind of arguments students (such as yourself) are coming up with, no wonder the lecturers want a higher wage!

Also, if you consider what the lecturers currently earn as "ridiculous", just wait until you enter the real world...

Some correspondents argue that because 'some' lecturers, according to them, to not perform then academic staff should be happy with what they have now. A stupid argument if ever there was one! The odd lecturer who does not perform should be identified and, if necessary, turfed out. But the majority of hardworking academic staff deserve salaries befitting their education and position. The reality is that the current and proposed salaries mentioned are inadequate and academic staff have every right to fight for betterment. For someone to argue that Euro 33,000 p.a. is adequate remuneration for a professor is pathetic. Most tradesmen in the building trades make more.

I heard from a good source that it will be cheaper for the government to pay for students to go to study overseas, compared to the costing at the Malta University. Can anyone confirm?

All teachers and lecturers should be paid an adequate salary not just the university lecturers. It is not amiss that the MUT mentions the salary of what the Kindergarten Assistants are being paid. Is it not a profession and vocation to teach and control a class of twenty 3-year-olds? Ask any parents who have one or two children!! So if they want to get paid high salaries like those in the private sector, their work should be monitored and evaluated. The concept of performance related pay should be implemented.

When University Lecturers start attending lectures regularly and all actually give a hoot about students, then they should get their pay rise, but the way things are going, some of the lecturers should be ashamed of for always holding us students as ransom and not improving your standards - so much for the university being a "centre of excellence".

The way you are portraying things make you look like you're on minimum wage!

@ Ms. M. Bugeja

I'm sorry to say, but you're in the wrong place if you still want to get your notes from lecturers. They're there to explain stuff not to give you the notes. You are not at the Primary schools, even though you speak like you still pretend to be. You want notes? Take them yourself, do some research. Strive. For God's sake, we are meant to fend for ourselves, at least now that we turned 18. No more excuses of being young, please!

€31,881 - No it is not enough for a Professor. A plasterer would probably earn more. Why don't people admit that "Ghax huma just imorru hemm u jparlaw, mentri l-haddiema jbatu hafna" reigns still in many people's minds. Lecturers have a plethora of students to deal with!

@ Mr. C. Caruana

"Can Mr Bencini tell us the number of hours these professors work. Is it between two or four lectures per week." They definitely work more. Those at JC even more, true, but those at Uni have quite a deal of lectures to handle, and loads to correct. If that was sarcasm, then sorry, but beware that 'sarcasm is the lowest form of wit'

What Mr Bencini and UMASA are not saying is on what basis of comparison are they saying that there salary package brings them so close to the poverty line.
If we start to compare our salaries to similar professions in other European countries I am sure not only Lecturers would feel aggravated.
I wonder how many professional do enjoy the pay package mentioned by Mr Bencini.

Come one! More pay? Don't make us laugh? Just because they send an extra e-mail during Summer? Just because they read out fom lecture notes - same ones - every year? Some of them work there as like a part-time from work. They teach a lecture or two in the week. Now i don't know you, but i highly doubt tha they do that for the love of teaching! Else they would be teaching full time in the first place no? What else remain..

Luca Cordina seems to be always in favour of these cowboys, who strike whenever MASA or Bencini think it fit. Ganni Bencini you are a disservice to your union. The MUT has become the equivalent of the Bus Drivers' Federation. I oinly hope that the Ministry will not accede to your demands. Otherwise we the workers will strike for more pay. Enough is enough.

So first I receive the correspondence that I have been accepted in the course last week, after a whole month waiting desperately for some response from the University and now that I am happy to begin studying I see this...€31,881 is not enough they say.. They strike because they know they are essential for the students although some lecturers don't deserve to be called lecturers as they come in the lecture room start talking without explaining and no notes whatsoever.. I hope this gets sorted the correct way and I can attend University as it is my right to learn!!

@ C. Attard

I don’t know what course you are currently following, but being I student like you, I beg to differ from what you are implying. Never was any student in my course not treated gently and fairly! Whenever we needed help we always found them there. I also had to e-mail some lecturers in summer and got help and replies back. Now I’m not saying that certain lecturers aren’t more down to earth than others, because that’s a cast-iron fact. But that is found everywhere, not only at Uni.

“They really don't give a hoot about students” – I utterly disagree with this statement of yours, which sounds too pitiable to me. Generalising is absolutely unfair and also counterproductive. They do care, at least all the lecturers I had last year did care. And also my friends’ lecturers did, as I usually used to enter other classes which intrigued me. Now I don’t know who your lecturers were, but surely you cannot just generalise.

I agree with Mr Bencini that the wages are low for professors and normal lecturers.

But then again, all jobs in Malta are poorly paid compared to other western countries.

Plus, the teachers don't have a chance if they go against the government for more money. Because if they do get bigger wages, every other part of the government branches will demand more money.

If they wanted more money, they should do like doctors or any other professional does... leave Malta.

Until there's a total restructure of the education system, there won't be good pays for teachers/professors.

Eur33 000 pa is not bad at all for Malta; one musn't compare with other EU states like Germany or the UK but to the local salary structure. The average wage in Malta is around Eur11 000 if I am not mistaken. Three times the average wage is a fair salary for a Maltese professor, don't you think? How many publications do our University professors have to their credit?

Can Mr Bencini tell us the number of hours these professors work. Is it between two or four lectures per week,

As I said under yesterday's story, I fully agree with the actions taken by the Unions. I know tomorrow was meant to be my first day at Univ, but lecturers are to be taken more seriously. Having finished my 1st year, and been dealing with them for a year now, I know what they are worth. They give their utmost to teach and educate us. The ridiculous pay they get is simply flabbergasting. Teachers at regular schools get ridiculous pays as well, so I would understand it should they ever strike too.

Lecturers are really not treated with the respect they should get. As a certain Ms. Zammit said under yesterday's post, plasters get a great deal of money for their job. Lecturers do not. And I'm not saying that plasters and the others are to take less money, not at all, but at least be reasonable. Lecturers don't get a simple degree and start lecturing but have to undergo a lot of studies and preparation to get that position. The wage they are entitled for is a miserable one.

Again, I fully agree with the Unions and the lecturers. You've got the students', rest assured on that!!

@ Liam

Well said!

The way how these lecturers have been portraying the pay that they recieve would almost have you believe that they're living in poverty... well, now that there are some official figures out, I have to say that this is absolutely shocking and greedy beyond belief!

As I said previously, they should only merit an increase in wages when they actually do give their 110%, which I can't say is the case with many of the lecturers!

@C.Attard
I hope that your mentality towards attending university matures. If lecturers are faced with ppl having such mentality, no wonder they don't really do that extra bit to make you feel catered for. Another thing about university, students are supposed to be guided towards doing their own research and stuff and not hand held in every step.

1600 Euro increase... and they are still far off?? What are they asking for then??

This is shocking behaviour which has done the MUT and UMASA absolutly no favours in terms of public support.

You should not using students as political pawns to satisfy your greed for more money.

And what idiots do you take us for when you say that 'lecturers could not continue to work on current saleries'? I'm a graduate and if someone offered me 31 thousand i'd bite their hand off!

Government: Dont let these thieves hold you to ransom. Stand firm.

And another thing, Mr Bencini, the government has indeed stressed the importance of human resoures; but it is YOU who need to reflect this in the quality of your teaching standards. Quite frankly, you should be counting yourselves lucky your not getting a pay CUT sir.

no uni this week... haha longer summer!!! jokes apart, hope the government will make the necessary deals and hope the lecturers will start taking care of students not just come and 'teach us' the way they are doing. They really don't give a hoot about students