The Malta Union of Teachers this afternoon wrote to the Finance Minister calling on the government to reply to a proposal it submitted two days ago in a bid to break the stalemate in the university lectuers' pay dispute.

Union president John Bencini confirmed that the letter had been sent, jointly with the University of Malta Acadmic Staff Association.

The Finance Ministry on Tuesday gave the unions an ultimatum up to noon on Wednesday to accept or reject its own offer and the union replied with its own proposal.

Mr Bencini yesterday strongly denied government claims that union demands would cost the country €141 million up to 2014, saying the real figure was closer to €60 million. The government has said its own proposals would cost €55 million over the same period.

The union is arguing that pay needs to be revised in line with the university reform, which will include changes in the lecturers' working' conditions.

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