MUT asks for time-frame

The Malta Union of Teachers yesterday wrote to the education division and to the office of the prime minister over two pending issues - the sectoral collective agreement and the recruitment of facilitators.

At the same time, MUT president John Bencini yesterday stressed that the union's directives were still in force even though there were signs that the disputes may be resolved.

Because of the dispute over the sectoral collective agreement, thousands of primary and secondary school students have not yet received their annual examination results.

Last June, the MUT directed all teaching grades to correct annual examination scripts but to refrain from entering marks on the scripts. They were further directed not to hand in the results to the school administration or any other official.

Mr Bencini explained that the government had verbally passed on to the union the proposals which indicated that it was reconsidering its position on the issue.

In the letter yesterday, the MUT asked the permanent secretary at the office of the prime minister to provide a clear time-frame in which the issue of the sectoral collective agreement could be resolved.

The dispute arose after the government refused to negotiate a sectoral agreement with the union and insisted instead that there should be one agreement covering all civil servants.

In another letter to the education dvision, the MUT asked for the proposals in connection with the recruitment of facilitators to be sent in writing, and requested certain clarifications.