Church asks MUT to suspend strike
The Church's Secretariat for Catholic Education has asked the Malta Union of Teachers to suspend next Thursday's strike in Church Schools, saying the industrial action is unjustified.
The union ordered the day-long strike by teachers in all state and Church schools after complaining that the government had not started talks on an 'addendum' to a 2007 agreement. It also accused the Church of dragging its feet on a new collective agreement for teachers in its schools.
The Church Secretariat for Education said in a statement this afternoon appeared to answer in kind, saying that it had invited the union for talks on a revision of the collective agreement soon after the government-MUT agreement was signed in 2007.
"The MUT, for some reason or other, took its time for the talks to start," the secretariat said.
However, several meetings had since been held and the agreement was close to being signed.
The latest draft was sent to the secretariat in the afternoon of April 2 and the MUT declared an industrial dispute on April 6, the secretariat said.
Further correspondence on the revised agreement was exchanged on April 22.
"It is clear that in three days it was not possible for the Church authorities to study the proposed agreement," the secretariat said.
It pointed out, however, that although the agreement had not been signed, Church School teachers started receiving an increase to their allowance as from January.
In the light of these facts, the strike directive was not justified and the secretariat said it as calling on the MUT to suspend industrial action in Church schools.
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Joe Portelli
Apr 27th 2009, 18:15
@William Micallef, I belief in freedom to strike when its necessary. But at times of global depression and Malta being amongst the first 3 of negative growth, an irresponsible action by anyone that threatens the nations chances to survive the economic downtown, should be reagrded as treason, when the time comes. So strike if its their right, but they would loose the right if its abused , as in Mintoff's time, strike and smash everyone in turn, banks, private companies and enterpreneurs. Thats not democracy that TREASON and Vengeance and cause debt, loss of GDP and yet a nother bill for all Maltese to share. What entertainment!
Clive Aquilina Spagnol
Apr 27th 2009, 17:57
I hate to say this but given it is a PN government, which stand do you expect from the Church...? What a country! Objectively speaking, yes, this time teachers should fight by strike for what was promised to them. Teaching is a respected profession as any other, hence teachers deserve to be remunerated in a way which enables them to lead a decent life in modern times. It is very sad to see the Church behaving in this way in 2009! BTW - I am not a teacher or involved in teaching in any way.
D.Zammit
Apr 27th 2009, 13:57
@ Mr Joe Portelli don't send your children to school. Keep them at home and teach them yourself. I'm sure you didn't learn anything from the teachers you had.
William Micallef
Apr 27th 2009, 08:30
Under the PN government nobody expects that the MUT takes industrial action but during the MLP government even for the least problem strike strike strike (VIVA ID-DEMOKRAZZIJA TA MINTOFF)
Chris Grillo
Apr 27th 2009, 07:52
Thank you teachers...maybe finally you give our kids a respite from all the homework dished out.
You're not as good as you really make out chaps! Full credit for coping with large amounts of children, but the methods leave me cold!
Everybody drags his feet when signing collective agreements!
david noel spiteri
Apr 25th 2009, 21:29
... And the Union holds the Strike on 30th April 2009 - for a long weekend presumably!!! MUT ... what a farce.
Joe Portelli
Apr 25th 2009, 19:35
We give teachers too much credit for the successes of the maltese. The credit should go to the parents who push their childrens perhaps instilling far too much expectation.
On the choice of Union for teachers; how can these educators belong to a union that does not practice sectret ballot voting? what are they communists? this is your civilised right to vote in secret rather than being bullied or peer pressured.
Parent, better keep looking after your own kids and dont expect too much.
Carmelo Galea
Apr 25th 2009, 19:21
This is not about religion this is about workers rights. Church you must keep out of politics .
I consider it very "unjustified" for the Church to intervene as IT always does in political issues etc, and in doing so the Church ignores the rights of the very people it is trying to attract. How unjust is that and unthoughtful?
Maria Falzon
Apr 25th 2009, 17:16
They MUT has been put on hold by government and church authorities for too many months. Whilst other sectors got the better wages and conditions, teachers and education staff remained in a status quo, which in effect is a relative degeneration. This is a one day symbolic strike, unlike prolonged actions of the past. The MUT is acting in a highly responsible way. Those who gave themselves a pay rise, have set us an example.
Joseph Scicluna
Apr 25th 2009, 16:57
Well done MUT. Go on and fight for your rights. This time round your members WILL NOT BE
BEAT, INSULTED AND THERE WILL BE NO STRIKEBREAKERS AS HAPPENED
UNDER THE MLP DICTATORSHIP, BECAUSE EFA RESTORED DEMOCRACY AND
FREEDOM IN MALTA
Anthony Magri
Apr 25th 2009, 16:25
Mr. Joseph Cauchi. You considered the MUT just as a symbol. Now that it is active in favour of teachers you are astonished and don't recognise it. Of Course! You want it to remain just a symbol and lay down; a puppet or marionette.
G.Schembri
Apr 25th 2009, 16:06
@ Joseph Cauchi - MUT is the same union we have known since we were kids, the difference is your attitude. Had the MUT striked or issued statements against PL, you would have said it's a great union. I have news for you MUT is there to voice the concerns and fight for the rights of its members and eventually improve education in Malta. It is not there to support PN or PL or the Church Secretarial for Catholic Education it is there to support its members.
Its members are teachers and believe it or not their one of their main concerns is the level of education in Malta.
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 25th 2009, 13:59
.
What’s happening to the MUT?
Is this the MUT as we knew it only few years ago?
I am afraid it resembles more of a union whose aim is to complicate matters rather than solving them!
../..