The MUT and UMASA this morning wrote to the University of Malta Rector in relation to the press statement and correspondence issued yesterday by the Medical Association of Malta claiming that this Association/Union has “sole recognition” at the Medical School and that it should be party to negotiations on the Collective Agreement of academic staff.
The unions informed the rector that neither the MUT nor UMASA recognize the above claims and furthermore insist that negotiations on the Collective Agreement are carried out with the unions representing the academic staff of the University of Malta, namely the MUT and UMASA. The recognition at the University has been set by the established procedure and confirmed by the Industrial Tribunal.
On Sunday, the Medical Association of Malta threatened industrial action throughout the health service over the government’s collective agreement with lecturers.
Registering an industrial dispute with the university, the association said it had sole recognition at the Malta Medical School and should participate and have signatory rights in any general agreement for academic employees at the university.
Both MUT and UMASA believe that MAM is well aware that membership majority at the Medical School of the University of Malta does not constitute recognition in the University and the same Association should inform itself of Industrial Law and recognition mechanisms before issuing such statements. MAM had ample time to discuss with the representative unions on any concerns or issues relating to the collective agreement. This never materialized and instead, to add insult to injury, the same association/union is setting forth empty threats that are arguably illegal. Moreover MAM’s claims that the said agreement discriminates against its members at the medical school are baseless and unfounded, and even unexplained.
In view of the circumstances, the MUT and UMASA informed the University Rector that they are declaring that they will not tolerate any situation whereby negotiations are hijacked by MAM or any other association / organization. Both Unions declare that if the University of Malta decides to include MAM in these negotiations they will reinstate the trade dispute and directives that were in force till the end of last week, unless both MUT and UMASA, are also included in the MAM – Government Sectorial Agreement, given that both Unions have members working in the health sector too.