Employers say academics' demands are exorbitant

The Malta Employers' Association (MEA) yesterday joined the controversy over the revision of academics' financial package, saying that their demands are "exorbitant" and "far removed from the realities of the Maltese labour market".

The MEA's statement comes as talks between the government and university and Junior College academic staff unions remained deadlocked. A meeting was held yesterday evening between the two sides but nobody would comment on the outcome.

When contacted, the president of the University of Malta Accademic Staff Association, Victor Buttigieg, said he had no comment to make at this stage.

The last collective agreement expired five years ago and in recent negotiations with the government the unions upped their demands to reflect the government's reformed vision for the tertiary sector.

In its statement yesterday, the MEA warned the government and the academics' unions that "excessive increases" in the academics' financial package would create market distortions and have ripple effects in both the private and public sectors.

The negotiations, the association said, cannot be based exclusively on a comparison between what academics earn locally and abroad. They should take into consideration how their demands relate to the package of other professions in Malta.

The discussions should also factor in the fact that "the budget allocation for the University is not just there to pay salaries" but also for other reasons, such as improving facilities necessary for better academic standards.

When asked to react to the MEA's statement, Dr Buttigieg said he was surprised that it was commenting on the financial package without knowing the details of the collective agreement.

"I'll just limit my comment to one example, but which other industry expects from an employee with a first degree to obtain a Phd within eight years or face the sack?" he said, pointing out that the academics' demands match the government's raising of the bar.

The MEA also highlighted the fact that during a time of international recession, an agreement that "doubles the remuneration package of a particular group of employees will create a justified uproar from the rest of society".

Yet, Dr Buttigieg insisted that the country needs to put the money where its mouth is when it speaks of wanting to attract research and innovation, adding that the changes planned are aimed at just that.