Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1520947
5 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 MAY 2024 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The sectoral agreement for educators ex- pired in December 2022 and negotiations have been going on since. Talks between the Malta Union of Teachers and the gov- ernment appeared to have made some progress earlier this year after a one-day school strike last November. Education Minister Clifton Grima had even told MaltaToday last February that it was his intention for the agreement to be sealed within two months. Nonetheless, three months later no agreement has been reached with the Mal- ta Union of Teachers declaring a trade dispute and giving the government an ulti- matum until Friday 24 May to "seek a res- olution" to the impasse. The union declared its mistrust in the Industrial Relations Unit, the government negotiating arm, accusing it of having no will to conclude the agreement in a timely manner. The union gave no indication of what it plans to do if the ultimatum lapses amid concerns that industrial strife may disrupt school exams. In a tit for tat on Saturday, the MUT and the minister traded accusations over a statement Grima made in which he said the government's financial proposal would see a newly graduated teacher getting paid €36,000 inclusive of allowances, a €10,000 increase on 2022 levels. Sources close to the talks told MaltaTo- day the €36,000 figure would be reached incrementally by the end of the five-year period covered by the agreement. Details so far have been scant. The MUT has not informed its members of its de- mands with the minister publicly telling the union to reveal what package the gov- ernment has offered. Speaking to MaltaToday on Saturday af- ternoon, Grima would not divulge what increases the government has proposed but dispelled rumours that increments will be linked to an increase in working hours or higher qualifications. He insisted that educators will receive backdated payments to 1 January 2023 and confirmed the extension of a 20-year ser- vice allowance currently paid to teachers, to LSEs and Kindergarten educators. Grima said that some of the problems flagged by the MUT over the past couple of days had been ironed out in two face-to- face meetings on Wednesday and Thurs- day after the union declared its mistrust in the government negotiating team. The minister confirmed that he will be meeting union officials in the coming week. "I am willing to close and remain open to negotiations," Grima said, adding he had no visibility what industrial action the union would take if the ultimatum lapsed. "Whatever happens, children should not be made to suffer," he added. Educators frustrated by MUT's secrecy Sources close to the talks have told Malt- aToday that the government has upped its original financial offer after initial reluc- tance. But there is increasing frustration among educators over the MUT's lack of trans- parency with its own members. "We went on strike in November not knowing why and today, six months later, we still do not know what our own union is demanding," an irate primary school teacher told MaltaToday. Another teacher lambasted the MUT's secrecy. "In meetings, they have had with us, union officials have not told us what they are demanding and whenever we ask for details they do not answer. This is a frustrating situation because I do not know to what extent my situation is going to improve and how far away the govern- ment is from meeting the demands," the teacher said. A secondary school LSE said it was in- comprehensible how the government found money for "everything, including a corrupt hospitals deal" but appears to be "thrifty" with educators. "The minister and the Prime Minister speak highly of our job but then fail to put the money where their mouth is," they said. Educators are caught between a rock and a hard place. They know that industrial action may be inevitable but at the same time are concerned it could disrupt pri- mary and secondary school exams, which could serve to anger people against the profession. A teacher expressed concern over the prospect of industrial strife. "Unfortunately, the impasse is pushing us towards industrial action but I fear that do- ing so now will only instigate more hate to- wards us, especially if it disrupts exams; the situation is unfair on everybody," they said. Earlier this year, MUT President Marco Bonnici had told this newspaper that ed- ucators will have a final say on any agree- ment reached since it will be put to the vote. However, he refused to divulge de- tails insisting no agreement is concluded until everything is agreed, including the financials. MUT declares its mistrust in Industrial Relations Unit