(Adds GWU statement)

Two unions have expressed disappointment at learning they are to sign a new collective agreement for civil servants from an article in The Times this morning.

In an open letter to principal permanent secretary Godwin Grima, the Malta Union of the Teachers and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said there was still no official notification that the agreement had been reached.

They called on Dr Grima to clarify his claim that six unions captained by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin, had already accepted the last offers made by the government following two years of negotiations.

“You are certainly aware that there were seven, not six unions, most of them still have issues pending and in no event was anyone captained by any union, least so by the UHM,” they said. 

They also asked for clarification about the claim that former public servants will also see their pensions increase.

“We are not aware that in the Civil Service CA the problems thousands of pensioners are facing on a daily basis may be tackled. 

“The CA was always a document that binds unions and government on civil servants. The MUT and the MUMN are totally in favour of having former civil servants getting an increase in pay it urges MPs to take care of this section of society, but it is highly misleading for anyone to say that such an increase is the result of a civil service CA when it is common knowledge that it is not. 

“Both unions have been campaigning for years for such increases and adjustment of pension capping through their representatives.”

In a statement issued in the afternoon, the General Workers' Union also said it was surprised at the report and said that no date for the signing of the agreement had been set as there were still matters which had not yet been agreed upon.

It also said it was not true that the discussions had been captained by the UHM.