For the first time in years, the president of Malta's oldest trade union, which represents the teaching profession, has to be decided through a ballot, set to take place in a month's time.

Though the two-week nomination period opens on Monday, Malta Union of Teachers senior vice-president Marco Bonnici and general secretary Franklin Barbara have confirmed their intention to run for the post.

This development came in the wake of MUT president Kevin Bonello’s recent surprise announcement. He said that he would not be seeking re-election for a third successive term for health reasons.

Mr Bonello, at the helm since 2011, will be also relinquishing his post in the Forum Unions Maltin.

Within days, Mr Barbara, who has been general secretary since 2007, announced his candidature.

Mr Bonnici, 41, launched his campaign during a news conference outside the Floriana primary schools, where in 1919 a group of about 500 teachers joined forces to set up Malta’s first trade union.

Flanked by a number of MUT council members who support his bid, he said that the teaching profession was going through a crisis.

This is partly due to unattractive work conditions and a number of incidents such that ministry officials or even college principals, with no consultation, were overruling teachers, he said.

Mr Bonnici said that as MUT president, he would set a six-month time frame for the conclusion of all collective agreements while pointing out that in recent years, talks had dragged on for too long.

Another proposal he put forward was for the establishment of a foundation which would focus exclusively on education. Given that scenario, union officials would channel their energies to trade union matters.

Though the election is scheduled for next month, the result is not expected before the end of May, due to the complex and laborious electoral process, which involves postal ballots.