The teachers’ union has called off its industrial dispute with the Church over a draft document about the engagement of heads of schools.

The teachers’ union and the Church have ironed out their differences over a draft document on the engagement of senior staff in Church schools.

As a result, the Malta Union of Teachers said it would drop its plan to issue directives at the schools.

The MUT had three weeks ago expressed concern over reports that, according to a new draft document, heads of Catholic schools would have to live in conformity with the Church’s teachings.

Over the weekend, union president Kevin Bonello said the union agreed on the need to revise the selection of heads of schools but this had to be done in light of the existing collective agreement and reflect the country’s employment regulations.

He expressed concern that Catholics who had to seek a separation or were homosexual could not be considered for these top posts.

However, the union said that during a meeting with apostolic Administrator Charles Scicluna and Bishop Mario Grech yesterday, it was assured that the Church had no intention of judging or discriminating among its employees on the basis of their private life.

Union was assured that the Church had no intention of judging or discriminating among its employees on the basis of their private life

The union said it was told employees’ private lives would not be investigated and the two sides agreed that educators needed to conform to the codes of ethics and the ethos of the Church school they worked for. On Saturday, heads of Church schools called for more time to reflect on the draft and to provide recommendations, expressing concern that their schools’ identity was in danger of being eroded by the existing collective agreement between the MUT and the Church.

Yesterday, the union agreed that Church schools should continue to embrace Catholic values, while respecting workers’ rights.

Mr Bonello said the MUT and the Curia agreed there should be further meetings about the draft document, which will be included within the new collective agreement for Church schools.

The union said a specific meeting will be held to discuss legal issues in relation to decisions reached by the Court of Human Rights.

Mr Bonello added that the union was immediately suspending the directives. The MUT would have specified what these were following the Christmas break.

The union will still be meeting its members, as planned, to update them about the ongoing discussions and answer queries.