(Adds statement by finance and education ministries)
MUT President John Bencini this afternoon accused to government of having immediately 'closed the door' on talks on an addendum to the teachers' collective agreement, through which the union is requesting better allowances for teachers.
The request was made after the government improved the allowances for the medical sector in 2007 at the same time as it had told the MUT when negotiating its agreement that further improvement to the allowances of teachers were not possible.
This was denied by the finance and education ministries in a statement they issued in the evening.
Mr Bencini said he was very disappointed with the outcome of a meeting held yesterday between his union, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. The MUT, he said, had proposed an interim agreement since it was mindful of the current economic situation and wanted a solution which would not impose a sudden burden on the economy.
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said the government had not closed the door to anything, but had requested a six-month window during which it could study the pay and allowances structure throughout the civil service to ensure that any changes were streamlined and aligned. Furthermore, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had said that in view of the current economic situation, it was difficult for the government to accept the proposals made by the MUT without detailed study.
The comments were made when the Education Ministry and the MUT signed memoranda which ensure that hundreds of kindergarten assistants, supply teachers, supply kindergarten assistants and learning support assistants will be eligible for indefinite work contracts.
The agreements, which are the culmination of months of sometimes difficult talks, cover the working conditions of 1,438 people.
It was agreed that those persons who are engaged on definite work contracts will be given indefinite employment after four years if they commit to improving their qualifications. Those already in employment will also be offered the opportunity for courses and indefinite contracts of work.
The supply teachers, supply kindergarten assistants and supply learning support assistants will also be offered guidance on what courses to follow to further their careers.
Mrs Cristina said this was another important step for better quality in education as well as an opportunity for the employees to continue their professional development. It also offered job security for hundreds of workers who to date had always been employed on definite work contracts.
Mr Bencini welcomed the agreement on the supply category but said this had been marred by the outcome of yesterday's talks.
In a statement issued in the evening, the education and finance ministries said the government had never closed the door to discussions with the union on its new demands.
Mrs Cristina said the government had proposed a comparative study on the conditions of work of all sectors in the public service for a complex exercise to be carried out rather than have categories considered individually.
The government asked for six months for this study to be held.