The Malta Union of Teachers had called on other trade-unions to stand together in ensuring that demands for increased productivity and efficiency, almost invariably involving additional tasks, new work practices and conditions, are not subsidized at the expense of workers’ health and pockets.

The union is currently involved in an industrial dispute with the government over the pay of University lecturers.

"The Union is concerned that in the Education Sector, at least, the authorities seemingly want to maximize performance and increase productivity without crediting due compensation. The impasse on the University and Junior College collective agreement is a case in point. Significant changes in work practices and conditions of work are being expected but at the same time the authorities are not ready to pay the price for this," the union said.

It complained that over the past couple of years, it had encountered great difficulties in conducting its business. Even where agreements had been concluded, the pace of implementation was dead slow and further crippled by instances of misinterpretation or unilateral arbitrary interpretation by management.

"On the other hand, measures intended to increase productivity and efficiency are hastily implemented even without the necessary support structures and resources."