Election Playbook: Let them eat doughnuts
One teacher’s union is declaring a trade dispute, while the other is complaining that its members did not get doughnuts. It was also a slow day for politics, so here’s your day 17 election round-up
18 May 2024, 6:30am
Nicole Meilak
Nicole Meilak
2 min read
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on the 2024 elections
Teachers revolt: It’s headache after headache for the Labour government. The Malta Union of Teachers gave the government an ultimatum on Friday regarding negotiations of the sectoral agreement for educators: resolve the issue and reach a satisfactory agreement by Friday 24 May, or else. This comes following a setback in negotiations last week, which prompted the MUT to express its mistrust in the government’s Industrial Relations Unit. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said the union should “factually inform” its members about government’s proposals.
Muscat’s Vitals: The Vitals saga is still ongoing in court, with Joseph Muscat’s lawyers asking the court to make public parts of the Vitals inquiry where he is mentioned. His lawyers filed the application as part of his court case against the State Advocate and the Attorney General – it was in this case that Muscat was given a copy of all documentation related to him that was gathered during the inquiry. If the court accepts this, this would be the first public glimpse of what information the Vitals inquiry contains, at least where Joseph Muscat is concerned.
Hospital recovery: As people get to grips with the Vitals scandal and its implications, the government has come out with plans for a new acute hospital in Gozo, as well as the regeneration of the Gozo General Hospital. Details are scant, but what we know so far is that the new hospital will have double the beds in the Gozo hospital. The wider regeneration plan will also introduce a new centre for anatomy, a new research facility, a child development assessment unit, and a new helipad.
Doughnuts for all: Another education tidbit. The Union for Professional Educators issued a statement on Friday regarding a school head who distributed doughnuts to members of staff, but not to UPE members. Basically, the primary school within St Thomas More College held a community session for its educators, but as per UPE directives, the union’s members abstained from attending the meeting. Then, the school’s head and the rest of the management distributed doughnuts to the staff, but apparently left out its UPE members. Props to UPE for fighting for what educators really need and deserve.
What’s happening today?: It’s a Gozo day out! The Labour Party will be in Gozo today moving from one place to another, with a final activity happening in Nadur at 6:30pm. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party will be in Xagħra for a discussion event at 6pm. Independent candidate Arnold Cassola is also in Gozo meeting residents and NGOs.
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Nicole Meilak is deputy online editor and IĠM press awards (Most Promising Journalist) wi...
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