Social workers employed by the Education Ministry have suspended their industrial action pending a meeting about their professional development.
Read: Social workers ask for ministry feedback
Two weeks ago, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses registered an industrial dispute saying calls for a professional development allowance for some 30 social workers were ignored.
Read: Social workers escalate industrial action
The social workers provide a service for all State schools and, among other things, the union directed members not to attend tribunal sittings, not to do home and school visits and not to answer telephone calls and e-mails.
The MUMN reached an agreement with the government last year over an allowance for social workers that it represents across different sectors. However, the allowance earmarked specifically for those employed by the Education Ministry was “parked” pending talks over teachers’ conditions, general secretary Colin Galea said.
Read: UĦM orders industrial action
Once the Malta Union of Teachers signed an agreement with the government in December, the MUMN insisted that the arrangement for social workers should go ahead. The MUMN said its call was acknowledged but they did not receive a confirmation.
Union representatives met officials from the Industrial Relations Unit and the Education Department in a “heated meeting” yesterday, Mr Galea said when contacted.
Read: Industrial action by social welfare employees ‘risks getting worse’
Social workers employed by the ministry do not receive any continuous professional development allowance and the union is asking for a grant similar to that of social workers employed by other ministries.
Mr Galea said Education Ministry permanent secretary Frank Fabri intervened and called for common sense to prevail.
The two sides agreed to meet again in two weeks’ time and make their proposals in a bid to reach a compromise.
Read: Social workers press call for pay raise after government deal with teachers
The government on Tuesday concluded discussions on a collective agreement for Foundation for Social Welfare Service employees, represented by the UĦM Voice of the Workers.
The employees, including social workers, had escalated their industrial action pending an agreement over their pay.