Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/842553
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 28 JUNE 2017 News New teachers' union being set up to counter MUT's 'conflict of interest' PAUL COCKS A new union is being set up to represent the interests of teach- ers, educators and allied profes- sionals and excluding all man- agement grades, MaltaToday has learnt. The decision was reached in the past few days following a meeting involving numerous teachers, kindergarten assis- tants (KGAs) and learning sup- port assistants (LSAs). During that meeting, many of those present appear to have voiced their consternation at the lack of adequate represen- tation for the larger body of the Malta Union of Teachers mem- bership. Several teachers who attended the meeting, and who spoke to MaltaToday on condition of anonymity, said that the MUT was too focused on defending management and not doing enough for the lower tiers of educators. That meeting ended with a firm resolve to set up a new union – to be called the Malta Union of Educators – to focus solely on improving the condi- tions of employment of teach- ers, LSAs, KGAs and lecturing grades. The new union will definitely not be taking on as members any headmasters, school ad- ministrators and other man- agement-grade employees. Sources told MaltaToday that they wanted the new union to avoid falling into the same trap of the MUT, which had a huge conflict of interest since it rep- resented both management and workers and because of its close ties to the establishment. The teachers insisted the new union should also pro- vide a professional platform for educators to participate in decision-making and to influ- ence debate on local education issues. Members would benefit from individual and collective bar- gaining; the union would pro- vide ongoing advice, guidance and advocacy. Last week, following an ex- haustive campaign – post- poned because of the general election – and fraught with accusations, allegations and judicial protests, Marco Bon- nici was elected to be the new president of the Malta Union of Teachers. Bonnici won 1,200 votes while Franklin Barbara, who also contested the election for the same post, trailed behind by only six votes, ending up with 1,194. The hard-fought election – which also featured extensive online and social media adver- tising by the candidates – was originally scheduled for the beginning of April but was put off after all the members of the electoral board resigned, with- out citing any reasons. It was then postponed again once the 3 June general elec- tion was announced, with the council deciding not to have its candidates campaigning during the general election campaign. Franklin Barbara and Marco Bonnici contested a hard-fought election for the MUT presidency ending with a narrow six-vote difference PA 18-year-old refusal hangs on latest attempt to re-develop Dingli site JAMES DEBONO AN application presented on 1 June – two days before the gen- eral election – foresees the dem- olition of the existing licensed explosives factory in Dingli and its re-development into a resort and spa. But the PA had already set a precedent by refusing a similar development 17 years ago. The original permit for the development for the explosives factory had been issued in 1977. Another application presented in 1994 to erect a store in the ex- isting factory was also refused. In 2000, both the PA and its ap- peals board refused an applica- tion that had been presented by Edgar Pugliesevich and which envisaged the re-use of existing industrial premises at Dingli for educational and agricultural use and for residential purposes. The application had envisaged the development of five residen- tial units, built over a footprint of 1,500sq.m. The agricultural and educational facility was to be built on a footprint of 86sq.m and was to include a lecture room, laboratory, reception area, office, restroom and toilet rooms. The development was rejected because the site lies in a Rural Conservation Area. Further- more, the proposal was not deemed to represent any sub- stantial contribution to agricul- tural, ecological or scenic inter- ests, which are the only form of urban development acceptable within Rural Conservation Ar- eas. Moreover, the amount of space allocated for residential pur- poses considerably exceeded the amount of land earmarked for agriculture. The present use of the site, i.e. an explosives manufacturing factory, cannot be used as a jus- tification for development which can be accommodated with the development zone. Referring to the use of the site as an explosives deposit, the PA had argued that this was accom- modated outside the develop- ment zone because of its nature, and that was the main reason why the construction of the present buildings had been ap- proved on the site. The proposed development does not essential- ly require the same protection. The decision was confirmed on appeal on 8 May 2002. The latest application was pre- sented by La Toc Hotels Limited, a company formed in 2014 and owned by Dirk Hili, Bianca Ana- stasi and Veli Holdings. La Toc hotel has recently opened the La Folceneria hotel in Valletta. Another previous application on the same site, which is out- side development zones, had been presented by the govern- ment in 2009 to replace the ex- isting explosives factory with a fireworks factory depot. The area is designated as one of 'High Landscape Value' and a buffer zone to an area of ecologi- cal importance. Although the development proposed is limited to the al- ready developed site, develop- ment on the site may attract more traffic and urban develop- ment in a rural setting. The government wanted to convert the former Pulvich Ex- plosives Industries site in the ar- ea known as il-Qaws, to collect all explosives material related to the manufacture of fireworks under one roof. The application was turned down in 2012 be- cause of the site's designation as a rural conservation area and for safety reasons. At that time, Dingli mayor Ian Borg (now minister responsible for planning and transport) had objected because the develop- ment was in a protected site, classified as a Natura 2000 site and a special area of conserva- tion. The explosives factory in Dingli New PN leader will find party finances in order – Busuttil NATIONALIST Party leader Simon Busuttil has said that his successor will inherit a party with its finances in order and which could now stand on its own two feet. Speaking during a brief in- terview on NET TV, Busuttil said that though many were disappointed with the PN's electoral loss, many were sat- isfied with the party's cam- paign and the way it organised itself in the last months. "From the financial point of view, today we are in a well organised state," said Busut- til, adding that the party had already been in a position to publish its campaign expendi- ture, which amounted to some €1.3 million. "More important than the cost was the fact that we col- lected all the money for the campaign, that everything has been paid for and we have not borrowed 1c," said Busuttil. Moreover, he said the PN had managed to restructure its debt, which was now be- ing paid off in monthly instal- ments. "The new leadership will find an engine that has already started and that is working well," added Busuttil. On the Marriage Equality bill being debated in parliament Busuttil reiterated that the PN would be voting in favour. "This is a very sensitive is- sue for the PN, and we are conscious of the fact that not everyone accepts this," he ex- plained, adding that the party had its reasons for the deci- sion. "Today we know that in our society we have certain reali- ties," he said. "The gay com- munity not only demands but deserves to have these rights." In addition to this, he said that the 2014 civil union law had already given the rights and obligations conferred by marriage. Guests at a civil union cel- ebration did not feel like it was different to any other wed- ding, he added. Moreover, the proposal had been included in the PN's manifesto before the election he pointed out. Finally, turning to the PN leadership race, Busuttil said the party's general council would be meeting to discuss and approve the system by which the new leader would be elected. He said that the process would be divided into two "levels". First, nominees will submit their names to the par- ty, with two ultimately being selected through a vote among the members of the 1,200 or so members of the general coun- cil. Next, 50,000 or so paid-up party members would select the leader in another vote. This, he said, would allow for an organised, fair and trans- parent process that would leave the decision in the hands of the many rather than the few.