Industrial action and strike planned by the Malta Union of Teachers against the Government of Malta (translation in comments)
by ReadyThor
Industrial action and strike planned by the Malta Union of Teachers against the Government of Malta (translation in comments)
by ReadyThor
3 comments
November 10, 2023 at 10:40 am
After talks that have been going on for nine months, the MUT is announcing that the negotiations with the government regarding the financial package of the new sectoral agreement for educators have failed. This happened after the government clearly showed that it was not ready to give substantial increases to educators, as it had promised before the last general election. This promise, which was repeated many times, both during the 2022 election campaign and in the following months, was not forgotten by the MUT or the educators. All educators are waiting for the government to show how much it values educators and the sector with facts.
The MUT was given two financial proposals by the government but these were rejected immediately, because the MUT saw that what was proposed would insult the educators instead of recognizing their work. Instead of coming with a revised proposal, a few days ago the government canceled the scheduled meetings. If the government intends to run the education sector with cheap labour, it will find the MUT at the forefront to oppose and protect the interests of educators. Educators are doing double the work that was done until a few years ago, thanks also to reforms that do not stop, classes packed with different levels, the challenges linked to the increase in the population, continuous assessment and lack of ‘ resources among others.
The government has a choice before it: either it goes with the assurances it gave before and after the general election, to substantially improve the financial package and the conditions of the educators, otherwise, if it chooses, instead, to break its word and remain does not recognize and does not support the work of educators, will find the MUT with unprecedented industrial actions, in order to safeguard the work of educators.
Earlier during this week the MUT declared an industrial dispute with the government and also notified the Church authorities. The MUT will soon inform members in State and Church schools about the industrial actions that will come into effect from Monday 13 November. These industrial actions include a one-day strike for all educators in State and Church schools, which will take place on Monday 27 November.
The waiting time is now over. It is necessary for all educators to make their voices heard through the industrial actions that will come into force, while supporting the MUT in an issue that will determine the future of the education sector in our country. The MUT will be doing everything that is expected of it so that the profession of educators is valued with facts and educators get what they deserve.
Also here is the [list of industrial actions set forth by the Malta Union of Teachers](https://mut.org.mt/mut-industrial-actions-applicable-to-all-state-schools-and-church-schools-primary-secondary-and-sixth-forms/) **starting from next Monday.**
All hail the teachers, if you happen to be a government I recommend to do it with 40k net €/year at least.