Friday, 19th December 2008
Student bodies criticise teaching staff unions' directives
The University Students' Council yesterday criticised the impasse in talks between the government and trade unions on a collective agreement for lecturers.
The council asked to meet ministers and union leaders over the issue.
Referring to the unions' directive to lecturers not to issue first semester results, it said no party should use students as a negotiating tool.
It has also requested a meeting with the University registrar and the rectorate to draw up a contingency plan in the event the directive is not lifted. "Nonetheless, KSU calls on all students to continue preparing for the January examination period and hand in any assignments on time," it said.
KSU said the unions' decision to boycott boards or committees would slow down the decision-making process at the University and would hinder students appealing decisions taken by the University administration to secure the protection of their rights and academic development.
The council called for further incentives for direct and indirect investment by the private sector in the University in order to alleviate the problem of the state having to finance higher education.
KSU said it will be launching an information campaign to inform all students of the prevailing situation.
Following on the same lines, the Malta Christian Democrat Students said it always believed in the right of unions to protect their members by means of industrial action in the scenario of an industrial dispute, adding however that it is disappointed that the students will yet again have to suffer unnecessary and negative consequences.
SDM therefore urged both sides to approach each other in a spirit of goodwill to resolve the issue as quickly as possible in the best interest of all parties involved.
At the end of the day, a proper education is a right not a luxury, SDM noted.
During a rally held on Tuesday, the University of Malta Academic Staff Association and the Malta Union of Teachers ordered all full-time and part-time academic staff at the University and the Junior College to withhold all end-of-semester examination papers.
If the exams have been held or their papers have already been submitted, then the scripts are not to be collected. The new directive came almost a month and a half after 176 lecturers out of 178 rejected the financial package offered to them by the government.
Before that, a one-day strike had been called, aimed at nudging the University management into rethinking the financial package which is the bone of contention between the two parties, that accuse each other of being unrealistic.
The unions had earlier this month instructed their members to work to rule, a directive that remains in force.
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Comments
Sur Angelo Micallef, you should re-consider what you said.
This is PULSE official Press Release regarding Umasa/MUT directives
S.Schembri
Pulse Treasurer
Yet strangely enough in Malta, if there's a pending issue between lecturers and the government, whom will KSU and its antennas like SDM support?... the government of course!! Since KSU has been lead by conservative students for the past centenary or so, no wonder it does not lift a finger against a nationalist government!
Isn't it so obvious that students are to be affected if teachers strike? Patients suffer when nurses strike, the public complains when refuse collectors strike. So what is Angelo Micallef trying to state? That we should all shut up and take no action?
Students should support lecturers punto.
I think its a luxury to have certain lecturers attending our lecture rooms, and give a proper lecture. If a rise in pay is to be given, then lecturers have to give their 100% and get warnings everytime they fail to do so. University should have proper monitoring systems as in other foreign universities which monitor the attendance. I recall a number of incidents when we tried to call a lecturers after waiting for more that 20 minutes in class for nothing, and be told that the lecture is cancelled. But the administration knows about these, and no wonder no rises are yet given. Very few deserve a rise in salary. But its always the student, who has a right to learn, ends up to suffer.
In our statement we did clarify that as a democratic organizaiton we believe in the right to protest and to take industrial action. I will not add any further remarks in this blog for I do not wish to engage in a useless debate.
Furthermore SDM wishes to express its full support and solidarity with KSU and its statement.
It is the government that is creating this situation and not the lecturers. If the government gave lecturers an appropriate package (text and salary)- then this industrial action would have never happened.
A similar industrial action was implemented last July. This was stopped because the union decided to continue new talks (buona fede). The government on the other hand came back with an increase of 1,000 Euros per year (mind you 35% of these go back to the government as tax).
I am sorry that the students will be hit directly by this industrial action but this is not the fault of either UMASA or the lecturers. It is the fault of the government.
At the end of the day, a proper education is a right not a luxury, SDM noted.
Interesting that SDM makes this statement. SDM should also note that getting improved working conditions including a better salary, after a 5 year old outdated agreement is ALSO a right AND NOT a luxury! Student numbers in the last 5 years at the University have increased, meaning more assignments, more exams more project supervisions etc....
Isn't giving academics a better pay a right ond not a luxury??!