A one-hour strike planned by State school kindergarten assistants was called off yesterday following progress made in discussions between the Malta Union of Teachers and the authorities.

MUT had called the strike in protest after about 170 kindergarten assistants who had followed the required courses at their own expense were not granted a grade two status.

The Public Service Commission is now expected to assimilate the status of the qualifying candidates on Thursday.

MUT president John Bencini said the union had held a four-and-a-half hour discussion with the parties involved at the Education Ministry last week. He relayed the outcome to the kindergarten assistants during a meeting yesterday.

“This is not a union of strikes, but it does not leave any stone unturned,” Mr Bencini said.