Updated at 5pm: Adds Mcast reply
Industrial action directives are expected to be issued by the Malta Union of Teachers tomorrow after the union today declared an industrial dispute with Mcast.
In a statement this afternoon, the union said the the college had failed to respect a deadline to provide counter proposals for financial aspects of the collective agreement being negotiated.
The union said it submitted its financial proposals to Mcast several weeks ago and observed all time-frames of the agreement, including attending a meeting earlier today during which the college was meant to pass on its financial proposals.
In correspondence with Mcast management, the MUT said that it was clear that while the union was taking agreements seriously, Mcast was dragging its feet and finding excuses to avoid commitments, to the detriment of educators and students.
The union warned that it would be issuing industrial action directives to members tomorrow.
Mcast's replies
In a reply, Mcast said it was strongly committed to reach a new collective agreement which gave a fair, just and improved package to its academic staff.
It was committed to conclude the text of the new agreement and had already agreed on a number of proposals which gave improved working conditions to academic staff.
Discussions, it said, were currently underway with the Education Ministry to present a proposal for a financial package as part of the overall discussions.
Mcast felt that agreement on such an improved financial package had to be achieved within the context of the complete collective agreement package. This was normal industrial relations practice.
The college said it was disappointed that MUT has opted to resort to industrial action when discussions were still underway and at a delicate stage while progress for improved conditions for lecturers has already been achieved.
It said it was committed to continue discussions and present a financial proposal at the earliest to achieve an improved and just package for all lecturers and LSAs at Mcast.
The college invited the MUT to return to the discussion table and continue the positive dialogue which has already started and achieved improved working conditions for Mcast staff.