Government, teachers register progress in talks

The government has finally agreed to present counter-proposals to an allowance package suggested by the teachers' union five months ago which have been the source of a long-drawn industrial dispute.

Representatives from the Education and Finance Ministries yesterday met union members to continue discussing the allowance package.

During the meeting, the government agreed to "immediately" present the union with its feedback to the proposed amendments to an agreement signed in June 2007, a government spokesman said when contacted.

The amendments, which the union presented in January, deal primarily with an increase in teachers' allowances.

The government's lack of feedback over the past months led to a work-to-rule directive being issued to teachers in all State and Church schools, which they have been following since last Monday.

The directive would remain in force until the union was satisfied with the counter-proposals, Malta Union of Teachers president John Bencini said.

The dispute has been dragging since April when the union insisted the government present counter-proposals and then ordered a one-day strike in State schools.