MUT announces MCAST strike after ‘unsatisfactory’ conciliatory meetings
The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has announced that MCAST teachers will go on strike for two hours on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February.
The MUT had originally announced a strike towards the end of January after talks over a new collective agreement had failed.
However, the college had taken the matter to court and the union was barred from carrying out the strike.
Earlier this month, MCAST said it had withdrawn the court mandate as a “sign of goodwill” and “with the proviso that MUT will return to discussions.”
But the teachers’ union yesterday said that, since the mandate was withdrawn it had attended three conciliation meetings whose outcomes were unsatisfactory.
“The MUT feels that there is no goodwill from MCAST to treat educators at par with other postsecondary institutions as confirmed when, rather than seeking a solution, MCAST tried to silence educators. It is also evident that the whole court procedure only served to delay matters further.
“In view of all this, the MUT therefore has no other option but to announce once again industrial actions. These will be applicable as from Wednesday 21st February 2018 and will include the following directive: All lecturing grades, LSAs, Technical grades and Student Services grades are to refrain from publishing and/or supplying any type of assignment result, and/or grade, and/or related feedback in any form.
“Furthermore, a strike of 2 hours each, between 10am and 12pm is hereby being announced for Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd February 2018,” MUT said.
Reacting, MCAST said it had “consistently endeavoured to show goodwill to reach an agreement for the benefit of its staff and students.”
The college said it had withdrawn legal action against MUT as a gesture of goodwill and during every conciliation meeting it has attended, it has tabled substantially improved working conditions for its staff .
“MCAST will continue to show goodwill to achieve a solution and is confident that the recent conciliation meetings have achieved good progress . MCAST believes that these meetings can reach a successful outcome if talks continue around the negotiation table.”