Updated 7pm

UĦM Voice of the Workers is suspending industrial action at the University of Malta as a sign of goodwill following progress in discussions about a collective agreement for non-academic staff.

CEO Josef Vella announced the lifting of directives on the eve of a planned student walkout from lectures.

"During an afternoon meeting held on Monday, the government came closer to the union's proposals. Although differences still exist, they are smaller and negotiations can continue," Vella said in a Facebook video.

The union's decision to suspend industrial action showed that the UĦM had no interest in delaying the dispute. He said the union was not to blame for the delays in reaching an agreement, as it had always been available to meet for discussion.

A meeting on Tuesday will formalise the agreement reached on Monday, he said.

Earlier, the University Students' Council (KSU) expressed concern that exams at the university may have to be postponed unless an agreement in a long-running industrial dispute is reached by Tuesday.

A student walkout from lectures was planned in protest.

The dispute involves the university and non-academic staff represented by the UĦM Voice of the Workers. The union had ordered its members to work to rule over delays in the conclusion of their collective agreement, blaming the university’s management and the Education Ministry. 

The union representing academic staff has backed the UHM's actions, telling staff not to perform any tasks that are normally performed by admin, industrial or technical staff. 

The students' council noted in a statement that unless pay talks are resolved by Tuesday, the first week of exams would have to be put off.

Students, it said, were desperate for some updates and clueless as to when the exams would take place.    

The council said exam candidates were already being impacted. Some were  unable to sit for practical or clinical sessions. Examination instructions to assist students had not been published and students on Erasmus courses were unable to receive correspondence. Other student-centred services essential to academic success were not being provided.

The council insisted that once ministries professed that tertiary education was important, they should put their money where their mouth is and break the deadlock without delay. 

Students' walkout

In a statement on Monday KSU said it was launching a petition calling for the exams to be held as scheduled. It also announced that students will walk out of their lectures on Tuesday at 10.30am and hold a rally.

"We will not tolerate being used as pawns in a dispute we are not involved in in any way," the council said. 

UĦM defends its position - 'Members have been waiting for two years'

Reacting to KSU’s statement, Vella said he understood the concerns and pressure students were experiencing but non-academic staff have been waiting for over two years for their collective agreement. 

“Negotiations have been ongoing for two years, and it is time we conclude,” he told Times of Malta. 

Vella said the directives issued for administrative, technical and industrial staff at the university involved around 900 members. He said the union had a meeting with the Education Ministry on Tuesday to discuss the way forward.

“We are doing our utmost to reach conclusions, but the government must provide a valid proposal for these workers,” he said.

When asked if the union would consider pausing the industrial dispute during the examination period, Vella said the union had delayed such disputes for the past two years. 

"We have been patient enough, and we hope that tomorrow we will be close to an agreement."

Government says it is seeking conclusion of the talks

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education said that the government respected the autonomy of the university, also in the negotiation of the collective agreement.

However, once no agreement had been reached, the ministry had already intervened and was offering its assistance for the conclusion of the talks.