Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1178700
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 OCTOBER 2019 Teachers' union files judicial protest to stop rivals' interference in LSE negotiations MATTHEW VELLA MALTA'S national union of teachers and a breakaway un- ion under the auspices of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin are at loggerheads since the lat- ter issued irregular industrial directives last week. The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) accused the Union of Professional Educators (UPE) of interfering in matters per- taining to its collective agree- ments, with industrial actions of its own. The recently-formed UPE has 564 members according to the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations, while the MUT has over 9,600 mem- bers. "For months the MUT has been hindered its work at school and church schools after the UPE started interfering in collective agreement negotia- tions. The MUT has so far cho- sen not to react to continuous attacks on its officials, at times personal. We think these tit- for-tits are of no benefit to any- one. But the union cannot stay silent in the face of the UPE's direct interference in matters that are not in its competence," the MUT said in a statement. The MUT has now filed a ju- dicial protest in a bid to prevent the UPE from intervening in collective agreement talks for LSE2-type teachers. "Different unions cannot just issue their own collective direc- tives, and in the process sow confusion in workplaces. The laws that regulate trade union recognition are clear, and only the union which has the major- ity of members can intervene and negotiate on collective matters and take industrial ac- tion when it feels negotiations are not achieving anything. "Whoever is not at that table is only destabilizing talks by tak- ing industrial action," the MUT said, referring to the UPE's call last week for industrial action. The UPE, represented by ex- ecutive head Graham Sansone, is claiming learning support educators (LSEs) are suffering from salary injustices and over- time issues which have been ignored by the MUT in collec- tive talks with the education ministry. Discover why P&O Cruises is Britain's favourite cruise line aboard the P&O Oceana in 2020. Only a limited number of cabins are available on cruise-only basis, without the charter flights from the UK. Don't miss out, book your 2020 Malta to Malta cruise NOW! Level 7, Airways House, High Street, Sliema. Tel: 21 222 999. Email: cruise@cruiseandtravel.com.mt Download a brochure at: www.cruiseandtravel.com.mt MTA Licence: TRA/M02 MALTA TO MALTA ROUTES 2020 – 7 NIGHTS ON P&O OCEANA • Prices are per person, inside cabin based on double occupancy and include all taxes & fees. Departure EARLY BOOKING PRICES From* 02-Apr Malta - Piraeus - Chania - Katakolon - Zakynthos - Malta € 768 09-Apr Malta - Civitavecchia - Livorno - Monte Carlo - Ajaccio - Malta € 768 16-Apr Malta - Kotor - Split - Venice - Zadar - Malta € 768 23-Apr Malta - Piraeus - Nafplio - Katakolon - Cephalonia - Malta € 768 30-Apr Malta - Olbia - Villefranche - Livorno - Civitavecchia - Malta € 742 07-May Malta - Hvar - Venice - Zadar - Dubrovnik - Malta € 794 14-May Malta - Piraeus - Mykonos - Heraklion - Gythion - Malta € 794 21-May Malta - Olbia - Villefranche - Livorno - Civitavecchia - Malta € 768 28-May Malta - Zadar - Venice - Rijeka - Hvar - Malta € 794 04-Jun Malta - Cannes - Livorno - Olbia - Naples - Malta € 896 11-Jun Malta - Piraeus - Santorini - Heraklion - Rhodes - Malta € 896 18-Jun Malta - Dubrovnik - Rovinj - Venice - Split - Malta € 896 25-Jun Malta - Civitavecchia - Livorno - Olbia - Naples - Malta € 896 02-Jul Malta - Piraeus - Chania - Katakolon - Zakynthos - Malta € 960 09-Jul Malta - Zadar - Venice - Split - Kotor - Malta € 960 16-Jul Malta - Civitavecchia - Livorno - Monte Carlo - Ajaccio - Malta € 960 23-Jul Malta - Piraeus - Nafplio - Katakolon - Cephalonia - Malta € 960 30-Jul Malta - Zadar - Venice - Sibenik - Dubrovnik - Malta € 960 06-Aug Malta - Olbia- Villefranche - Livorno - Civitavecchia - Malta € 1,024 13-Aug Malta - Piraeus - Mykonos - Heraklion - Gythion - Malta € 1,024 20-Aug Malta - Zadar - Venice - Rijeka - Hvar - Malta € 1,024 27-Aug Malta - Cannes - Livorno - Olbia - Naples - Malta € 1,024 03-Sep Malta - Piraeus - Santorini - Heraklion - Rhodes - Malta € 1,024 10-Sep Malta - Dubrovnik - Rovinj - Venice - Split - Malta € 1,024 17-Sep Malta - Civitavecchia - Livorno - Olbia - Naples - Malta € 999 24-Sep Malta - Piraeus - Chania - Katakolon - Zakynthos - Malta € 1,024 01-Oct Malta - Zadar - Venice - Split - Kotor - Malta € 768 Teachers' union MUT is taking court action to stop breakaway union UPE from taking illegal industrial action The MUT has accused Union of Professional Educators (executive head Graham Sansone is pictured) of issuing illegal industrial directives to LSEs