MUT orders one day teachers' strike - Ministry says demands are exaggerated

The Malta Union of Teachers has ordered all teachers in state and Church schools to strike all day on Thursday, April 30 and to observe a work to rule as from the following Monday.

The directives were issued at a rally held at St Aloysius College which was addressed by union president John Bencini.

He explained that 14 months ago, the Education Minister had promised to hold talks on an addendum to a 2007 reform agreement, but nothing had happened since. He said the government had rightly reviewed doctors' pay, but the teaching profession remained underpaid, especially when compared to the rest of the EU.

Furthermore, the Church authorities were dragging their feet on an important agreement which had been under discussion for months.

Mr Bencini also complained about problems which the MUT is having in its social dialogue with the Education Ministry, and said the level of scrutiny of teachers was much higher than that made for other professions. He said that the MUT was receiving reports of workers' rights not being observed.

Mr Bencini warned that the industrial action may be extended.

EDUCATION MINISTRY'S REACTION

The Ministry of Education in a statement condemned the MUT’s decision to order industrial action.

The Ministry said that what the MUT was demanding went beyond what was agreed in the 2007 agreement, which it had described as historic at the time.

The union was requesting increases in allowances and other conditions for teachers which would cost a total of €15 million every year.

The ministry said that most of what had been agreed in 2007 had been implemented and other provisions were in an advanced state of implementation.

The ministry described the MUT’s demands as exaggerated and said they led one to doubt whether the union had calculated what their impact would be on the economy.