(Adds comments by MUT President John Bencini)

The academic staff of the University and the Junior College has backed the draft collective agreement reached between their trade unions and the university last week.

The long-overdue agreement was finalised at the end of two days of talks in the wake of a rally held by university students.

It includes salary increases and provisions for lectures to be given in the evenings at the university.

The talks were held by the University of Malta Academic Staff Association, the Malta Union of Teachers and the university. The draft agreement was approved with an overwhelming majority during an extraordinary general meeting called by UMASA and the MUT this morning.

MUT president John Bencini said the collective agreement was a clear reflection of the government's appreciation of the important work which lecturers carried out.

The agreement, he said, would help the university fulfil its role and reflect positively on the students.