Teachers union calls off MCAST strike

The union said the decision was taken after an ‘understanding on the way forward’ was agreed upon with the college

The MUT has announced that will be cancelling industrial action planned for Friday 15 December
The MUT has announced that will be cancelling industrial action planned for Friday 15 December

The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has called off industrial action at the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), which was planned for Friday 15 October, following a meeting with the college’s management.

In a press statement issued this afternoon, the MUT said that no agreement had yet been reached on the terms of a collective agreement for MCAST teachers, but added that the union was satisfied at the fact that “an understanding” had been reached on the way forward.  

“The MUT has today met again with the MCAST management, with the latter submitting another financial proposal for the Collective Agreement. This proposal is still not acceptable by the Union but following an understanding on the way forward for the negotiation of this financial proposal in the context of the whole Collective Agreement, the MUT has agreed to suspend the full-day strike which was planned for Friday 15th December as a gesture of goodwill,” read the statement.

During the meeting, the MUT said it had agreed with MCAST to continue negotiations as of this Thursday, when the two sides will schedule further meetings that it is hoped will lead to the end of negotiations.

“However, to avoid having a repeat of the situation whereby MCAST continued to drag its feet and find excuses to refrain from adhering to agreed commitments, all directives will remain in place unless otherwise notified,” concluded the union.