Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515545
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS MALTA Union of Teachers members will vote on the sec- toral agreement once talks with government are concluded, un- ion chief Marco Bonnici con- firmed. However, the MUT President defended the union's decision not to disclose its demands to members so far. "Nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon," he insisted in comments to MaltaToday. "This is the basic rule of ne- gotiations and is the reason why one cannot disclose sec- tions of an agreement until the whole agreement is concluded. It applies also to the financial package which is tied with con- ditions of work. The package remains unconfirmed until the last condition of work is agreed upon, which may also bring a change in the financials," Bon- nici said. He was reacting to a Malta- Today story from Sunday that quoted several educators com- plaining over the lack of infor- mation on the ongoing sectoral agreement discussions. Teachers and LSEs who spoke to this newspaper even ques- tioned the scope of November's one-day strike action ordered by the MUT. Almost three months later the sectoral agreement talks have not yet concluded. The sectoral agreement for teachers, LSEs, Kindergarten educators and heads of school expired in December 2022. Educators are still in the dark as to what the union's demands for better pay and work condi- tions are and what the govern- ment is offering. "The proposals for the sectoral agreement being negotiated, including the financials, are ex- actly what members have been requesting throughout the con- sultation sessions held by MUT over a span of months," Bonnici said, adding the agreement shall be made available to members once negotiations are conclud- ed. "MUT members shall vote on the agreement." He defended the industrial action taken last November, which he says was the result of stalled positions on financials. "Things have been moving forward following the directives and strike," Bonnici said, adding that a clear timeline to conclude the agreement has now been es- tablished with the government. Education Minister Clifton Grima told MaltaToday on Sunday the government is com- mitted to honour its electoral pledge to offer teachers a "sub- stantial" increase in pay packets. However, he has stopped short of quantifying the increase. Grima had said talks between government and the union nev- er stopped. "We have increased the frequency of meetings and we have charted out a way for- ward for the next few weeks. I wish to conclude within the next two months. We've made a lot of progress on several issues but the financials are still being discussed," Grima had said. Union cannot disclose agreement details until 'everything is agreed upon', MUT chief says Malta Union of Teachers President Marco Bonnici says members will get to vote on the sectoral agreement once talks are concluded, insists 'things have been moving forward' since strike action last November KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY The role requires a person who provides clerical/ administration support to the respective Directorate. Successful candidates must be in possession of the following:- Route A – Qualificati ons and E xperienc e Applicants must be in possession of a minimum of four (4) O'Levels which must include English and Maltese plus a minimum of one (1) year office experience with a professional organization. OR Route B – Qualificati on Be in possession of an MCAST Certificate in Secretarial Studies or an equivalent and recognized qualification. Skills (applicable to Route A and B) Word-processing literate, and preferably skilled in other IT tools, typing skills, fluency in Maltese and English and good oral and written communication skills. Candidates are to present scanned copies of all qualifications with their application together with proof of local equivalence issued by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), for any qualification(s) which are not awarded by University of Malta or MCAST. Candidates who are in possession of qualification(s) in a language other than English, are to present a translated copy of their qualification(s) in English. All certificates, the proof of local equivalence, the completed Declarations by Candidate, which can be downloaded from https:// www.pa.org.mt/en/ vacancies , and the Jobsplus Employment History, which can be downloaded from https://jobsplus.gov.mt/, are to be presented with the application, by the closing date for submissions. Candidates who are 3rd country nationals, are to have a valid working permit by the closing date for submissions of the call, which permit is to be presented with their application. The position carries a starting annual salary and allowances of €20,357.12, a performance bonus and other benefits. The above post is for an indefinite period. Interested candidates are advised to submit their application, by sending an application via email on jobapplications@pa.org.mt together with a detailed curriculum vitae in pdf format by not later than Tuesday 1 3 th Februar y 2024 to: The Human Resources Manager Planning Authority Ref: Secretarial Assistant Jobsplus Permit No. 199/2020 Further information is available on our website: www.pa.org.mt/en/ vacancies JOIN OUR TEAM SECRETARIAL ASSISTANT CAREER OPPORTUNITY Marco Bonnici