MUT rebuts education ministry statement

The Malta Union of Teachers yesterday denied that it was in dispute with the government over lack of agreement on the 2002-4 collective agreement for civil servants. It was protesting, it said, because the Office of the Prime Minister was refusing to negotiate a sectoral agreement.

The union was rebutting a statement by the education ministry last week.

It said the previous sectoral agreement had expired seven years ago, and the government had promised a year ago that it would negotiate another.

Nevertheless, the MUT was keenly awaiting the final draft of the collective agreement to be issued by the OPM, and the government had already stated publicly that this would involve a wage freeze for 2002-4.

The union also objected to the ministry's assertion that by its industrial action relating to examination paper marking, it was holding the students hostage.

"On the contrary, it is the government that is trying to hold teachers and kindergarten assistants hostage by deceiving the MUT over the sectoral agreement and deceiving more than 200 kindergarten assistants (special needs) by promising them they would be eligible to apply for facilitator posts after completing the Faculty of Education's Certificate Course in Education (Learning Support Facilitator).

"The MUT would have failed in its duty had it allowed the government to betray these employees."

The union added that it was nevertheless still ready to meet the government when called.

"It is important to note that the union council has been asking the authorities to resolve these issues for a long time," the union said.