MCAST lecturers to receive increased wages and new benefits

The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) today signed a new collective agreement with the MCAST to guarantee new benefits and improved working conditions, including increased salaries.

Education Minister Dolores Cristina said this collective agreement will not only improve the conditions of lecturing staff at MCAST but also represent a commitment by MCAST to give more opportunities to students and teachers alike.

“This is the first time in a collective agreement that a work resources fund will be provided for teachers to continue their training and increase resources available to them.

“Increased salaries and improved holiday entitlements for Learning Support Assistants will also be included together with increased salaries for lecturing staff in the collective agreement for the first time,” Cristina explained.

Stating that the collective agreement will cost a “substantial amount”, Cristina said it was a big investment in the services provided in the education sector for students.

“MCAST provides education and training for students of all levels from basic skills and no qualification to degree level. This investment is not just about the money, it is about a concept,” Cristina said.

MCAST president Joe Farrugia said the collective agreement will not only benefit the institution itself and the staff but also the main stakeholders. “The main stakeholders are the students and this will hopefully encourage more students to further their education. This is not just an end to negotiations, but a beginning for improved industrial relations,” Farrugia said.

MUT president Kevin Bonello said this agreement “reflects” the MCAST’s contribution to the education sector ranging from vocational education to academic.

“This will put the students’ interests ahead with better services as lecturers are provided with satisfactory work conditions and resources. MUT considers this a breakthrough in industrial relations,” Bonello said.

Claiming "undeniable success" achieved by MCAST as an institution, MCAST Principal Maurice Grech said that he was pleased to see his “staff finally getting what they deserve”.

“This agreement rewards the dedication of our employees, whose relentless commitment guarantees the college’s continued success. Through improved conditions, it will also help MCAST maintain its current human resources, while attracting more professional educators to its team.

“More importantly, it ensures that the college continues to improve the quality of its vocational education services to help more and more students achieve rewarding careers,” Grech said.

The agreement will also provide a reduction in lecturers’ contact load from 21 hours a week to 19hours in class and introduce arrangements for lecturers to deliver two and a half hours of lecturing twice a week after 4.30pm.

Lecturers will also have the possibility of making use of flexi-time arrangements, on condition that they are present on campus during the established core hours.

Minister Dolores Cristina added that the number of students who applied to join MCAST in the 2012/2013 academic has increased by 8.7% to 3174 prospective students.

MCAST said this number may continue to increase following the Second Call for Applications, between 26 and 28 September, during which prospective applicants who had not applied during the first call, or who are still awaiting exam resit results, may apply to join MCAST. More details about this second call are available on the MCAST website www.mcast.edu.mt.