UPDATED WITH MUT STATEMENT

Speaking with ONE News, Education Minister Clifton Grima revealed that a propose package features a €10,000 increase for new teachers – meaning they would start their career with a salary of up to €36,000.

This comes after the Minister urged the Malta Union of Teachers to inform educators with factual information about the governmental proposals.

Minister Grima’s comments followed a Ministry statement expressing continued readiness to engage with the union representing the majority of teachers, extending another invitation for discussions.

Meanwhile, the Union of Professional Educators (UPE), representing a smaller group of teachers, called on the government to publish the improvement measures offered to teachers.

The UPE accused the MUT of keeping these details hidden, even from its own members. The UPE noted that educators are uncertain about their working conditions and the sectoral agreement, leaving them in the dark about ongoing negotiations.

Minister Grima reiterated the government’s commitment to providing robust and sustainable salary increases for educators, recognizing their profession and essential work. He emphasized that the proposed salary increases do not require additional working hours.

Kindergarten teachers and LSAs are also set to receive these increases along with a new allowance.

Recent meetings with the MUT have been characterized by mutual respect and a shared willingness to reach an agreement, according to Minister Grima. The government remains committed to improving conditions for educators and advancing the negotiation process.

MUT RESPONDS

According a newly published statement by the MUT, ‘the €10,000 increases and a salary of €36,000 to new teachers mentioned by the Education Minister are nowhere to be found in government’s financial proposals to MUT.’

In a statement, the MUT said that it has published extracts from the latest proposal of the government which ‘clearly shows that the government never proposed  increases of EUR 10,000 or a salary of EUR 36,000 to new teachers. The MUT also published the extracts from the government proposal referring to an increase in the teaching load, the lost parity between grades currently at par and the salary arrears for 2024 leaving out 2023.’

The MUT said that this makes it evident that instead of finding solutions, ‘the government is trying to save face against all odds by attempting to discredit MUT’.

The MUT concluded by saying that it will ‘not be intimidated and will keep fighting for the factual recognition of the work of educators.’

Minister Clifton Grima’s Response

Education Minister Clifton Grima also released a statement, saying that he holds to what he said during yesterday’s address to journalists in regards to the salary raise.

‘I already urged the MUT to give the factual information to its members. Nowhere did MUT refer to the last 2 meetings which took place this week.’

‘In the case that this does not take place, and in the case of MUT sharing selective information, the government has no other option but to publish everything itself.’

#MaltaDaily