[WATCH] Updated | Education ministry wants 'conciliatory' meeting with teachers' union

Evarist Bartolo on teachers' strike

Evarist Bartolo insists the MUT is not an adversary as he calls for a conciliatory meeting.

The Education Minister said government disagreed with the union's assessment that the wage increases offered amounted only to 5%.

The MUT has ordered teachers and educators in state and church schools to strike on November 8 over lack of progress in collecting agreement talks.

The government has admitted teachers are underpaid and their progression has stalled over the years but the two sides have failed to agree on the proposals put on the table.

Addressing journalists after attending a certificate award ceremony as part of the language learning programme, Bartolo said he was convinced talks could lead to a solution.

However, he would not say how far the two sides were from each other. Bartolo said he disagreed with those who criticised teachers and used offensive language in their regard.

"People who offend teachers because they have summer holidays do not know what their work entails," Bartolo said.

Contacted for his reaction, MUT president Marco Bonnici said: "we were notified of the concilliatory meeting after it was announced in the media. We do not yet have details on when it will be held, but once we have a date, we will be attending."