The Malta Union of Teachers has declared an industrial dispute with the government - as it had promised to do after January 1 if no progress was made on the long-running issue of payment of allowances.

The union said the government had committed itself in June to examine the situation with regard to allowances for teachers by January 1, but it had not been informed of any progress.

The union is demanding action to address anomalies created when salaries given to other sections of the civil service were raised.

"The lack of communication by the government is frustrating all teaching grades in State and Church schools," the union said. It added that its council would meet again on January 11 and may order industrial action if the situation remained unchanged.

Teachers went out on a one-day strike over the same issue last year. They also observed a work-to-rule.