The hour-long strike due to be held by state school kindergarten assistants on Monday has been postponed following substantial progress in talks between the Malta Union of Teachers and the authorities, the union said.

The Malta Union of Teachers had called the strike in protest at what it said was the government’s failure to grant grade two status to kindergarten assistants who had followed the required course at their expense.

Furthermore, kindergarten assistants who had passed the interview for a promotion to grade two had not seen any improvement in their conditions, the union complained.

It said the government was supposed to have tackled the issue by the end of last year.

In a statement this morning, the MUT said that intensive talks were held with the authorities and substantial progress has been registered.

It said that an urgent meeting for all Kindergarten Assistants is being held on Monday at 4.30 p.m. at the Teachers’ Institute. Details will be given on the latest developments.