Academic union declares industrial dispute with UM over lack of financial offer
The UMASA will issue directives if it does not receive a 'reasonable offer' by Monday
The trade union representing the university's academics has declared an industrial dispute with the University of Malta, as the university failed to present a financial offer for the new collective agreement.
The University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA) on Wednesday said that if it does not receive a “reasonable offer” by Monday at noon, it will issue directives to academics.
UMASA said that it had presented financial demands over a year ago, but it has yet to receive a reply about the financial package.
Speaking to Times of Malta, the president of the association, Prof. Luciano Mule Stagno, explained that UMASA was in talks with the university to sign a new collective agreement, as the previous one expired almost two years ago.
He said that they have received responses to other requests that they have made, but nothing regarding the financial package.
The union has chosen to declare the industrial dispute, as the issue has dragged on for over a year, and they are now nearing the end of discussions for the new collective agreement.
“If we issue directives, it will be to stop some form of operation that would have the least impact on students but still impact the university. Hopefully, we don’t get to that point,” he said.
Centrist political party Momentum has offered its full support for the union, saying that it is “unacceptable” for it to be left without a response for over a year regarding the financial package.
“The University’s persistent silence regarding UMASA's salary proposals reflects a worrying lack of interest in the well-being, morale, and professional conditions of its academics. It undermines trust, devalues the contribution of hardworking academics to the institution, and jeopardises the quality of teaching and research that our students deserve,” party leader Arnold Cassola said.
Cassola urged the university to engage with the union and warned against repeating what happened with the MCAST negotiations, which “dragged on for months and years, leaving students in prolonged uncertainty”.