Updated at 6pm with Mcast statement

A teachers' strike at Mcast planned for this Friday has been called off by the Malta Union of Teachers. 

The one-day strike had been ordered after the union failed to receive financial counter-proposals from college administrators by a stipulated deadline. 

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the MUT said that while it was not satisfied with the offer on the table, it was calling off Friday's strike as a "gesture of goodwill". 

The two sides, the union said, seemed to be agreeing on the way negotiations on a new financial package as part of a collective agreement for Mcast teaching staff should be conducted going forward. 

Other union directives in place, which include not answering emails or providing feedback, will remain in place for the time being, the MUT said, to ensure Mcast did not "continue to drag its feet and find excuses" to put off talks. 

Meetings between the two sides will continue on Thursday.  

Mcast statement

In a statement on Tuesday evening, Mcast welcomed the withdrawal of strike directive.

It said it was strongly committed to reach a new collective agreement with MUT which gave a fair, just and improved package for its academic staff.

It committed itself to conclude the text of this new agreement, already agreeing to a number of improved conditions for its staff. It also offered an improved financial package to its staff.

It appealed to the MUT to reconsider its current position and suspend all its other directives while negotiations were underway as was customary in normal industrial relation practices.

Mcast said it strongly felt that given the present positive developments there was no justification for such directives to remain in force and appealed for common sense to prevail.