Lecturers at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology could be directed to carry out another two-hour strike after their union was disappointed at the way the college principal behaved during industrial action yesterday.

To safeguard its members’ rights, the Malta Union of Teachers ordered all college lecturing staff to keep assignment marks and examinations results in their possession until “Mcast stops its abusive attitude and attacks against the union” and the pending issues are resolved.

MUT outgoing president John Bencini deplored the fact that strikers were asked to sign out of the school when the industrial action started at 10.30 a.m. They then had to sign back in when the strike was over at 12.30 p.m. even though their one-hour lunch break started at that time. Another strike is being considered.

Mcast principal Maurice Grech said he could not understand what the issue was about because signing in and out during a strike was normal procedure. Most of the lecturers of all grades at Mcast took part in the strike to protest against work conditions.

Speaking to a group of lecturers outside Mcast in Paola, Mr Bencini said throughout countless meetings with the college management, any proposals put forward by the union were shot down.

“The main problem is we’re not getting anywhere with management,” he said, adding that “about 70 per cent of MUT’s work goes towards tackling problems at Mcast”.

Some lecturers said they felt there was too big a divide between the administration and the staff and others complained that promotions due to them were not granted.

The strike was ordered after the union complained that no agreement was being reached on important issues, some of which were etched in the collective agreement that expired last year. These included the way teachers were granted promotions, the salary of learning support assistants and “unjust” disciplinary procedures initiated against staff without first listening to their version, the fact that part-timers were asked to register as self-employed and issues with tax information given to teachers. The union argued that unless these issues were ironed out, it could not start serious talks on the next collective agreement.

Prof. Grech said during a conciliation meeting with the union held on Monday that the tax and part-timer issues were solved. An agreement had been reached on the way forward for the other pending issues listed by the union, he said. He said he made it a point to ensure there was open communication between management and staff and had meetings with staff members of various institutes every week.

Mcast president Joe Farrugia insisted the college doors were always open for discussion and criticised the union for resorting to industrial action rather than discussing the matter. As a result the students suffered.

He said the MUT had ignored appeals to present proposals for the new collective agreement and to decide on an appraisal system for teachers that would regulate the promotion system.

As for the disciplinary procedures, he said these were rare and he was certain the majority of staff performed their duties diligently and professionally.