University, Junior College lecturers to strike tomorrow

The MUT and UMASA (University of Malta Academic Staff Association) have ordered University and Junior College professors and lecturers to hold a one-day strike tomorrow as pay talks with the government remain bogged down.

The directive was issued at a rally this morning as the academic staff boycotted the ceremony marking the opening of the University academic year.

Victor Buttigieg, UMASA President, said he hoped the action would lead to a rethink by the government as the lecturers could not continue to work on current salaries. He warned that harsher industrial action would otherwise be called.

MUT President John Bencini said the government was insisting on the importance of human resources and of having the university as a centre of excellence. Salaries, he said, had to reflect this.

He said it was ridiculous that university professors' gross basic pay was currently €31,881 and the government was only proposing to raise it to €33,505 from January.

Senior lecturers were currently paid €26,465 (gross) and the government proposal was for an increase to €27,769 while assistant lecturers were currently paid €20,300 and the proposed increase was of €21,247.