The Department of Industrial and Employment Relations has confirmed that a union representing teachers did not break any law in issuing directives, the union said. 

The Education Ministry warned on Monday that directives issued to teachers by the newly-formed Union of Professional educators (UPE) were illegal, because the union was not the one recognised as representing educators.

But in a statement on Tuesday, the UPE said the department of industrial and employment relations confirmed it was not breaking any laws.

The UPE had instructed members and non-members not to send resources for photocopying at the government printing press, and instructed those with their hands full not to do extra duties.

It complained teachers of Maltese and mathematics were given a load of 25 lessons each per week and education officials were unwilling to offer any solution or compensation.

The Education Ministry was “desperate” for the union to retreat its directives, it said, adding that the UPE would never accept a situation where members were discriminated against.