The Malta Union of Teachers has made its point.
The union said that on Thursday 99 per cent of the teachers followed a directive it gave them to report for work one hour later than normal. The industrial action was called following a series of physical and verbal attacks on teachers and because, the union said, the authorities are not doing enough to control the situation.
The union believes that the issue of discipline in schools is not being tackled in the right way and regular reports of misbehaviour in schools confirm that the union is right to feel preoccupied with a situation that is getting worse.
The relations between the union and the Education Ministry and Education Division have taken a turn for the worse. Not because of the strike per se, but because of a statement issued by the ministry two days before the industrial action, telling heads and assistant heads to report to school as usual and because “it was a normal school day”.
The union interpreted this move as one of “challenge and confrontation”, and during a press conference on Wednesday, the union said that it had suspended its contacts with the Education Division until there is a clear declaration that teachers have the right to strike and should be allowed to decide for themselves.
In a statement issued after the one-hour strike, the ministry explained that it had not intimidated heads and assistant heads but simply suggested that since transport services were to take students to school at the normal time, it would have been better if they reported on time to open the gates for the children.
The union replied that it will be adhering to an agreement it had with the ministry not to discuss the issue through the media. But at the same time it is still maintaining its stand to stop all discussions with the ministry unless the latter clarifies its position.
Just as much as the MUT felt that its call for industrial action was justified because it believes that it is not receiving enough support from the government on a very serious matter, the MUT should reconsider its position to suspend all contact with the government.
The reform that the MUT wants cannot take place without its participation at top-level meetings or talks. Such a reform is intended to bring about a better administration of the education sector and also to deal with issues that the MUT holds close to its heart, including the issue of discipline in schools.
The MUT would therefore be shooting itself in the foot if it keeps back from the negotiating table, as this would prolong the process which is ultimately intended to improve the current situation and, by doing so, improve the general conditions of its members.
Agreed, the MUT insists that the ministry should not have issued such a statement on the eve of an industrial action and the ministry should have been more careful in its choice of words. But deep down the MUT must realise that its right to call a strike and the right of its members to choose to obey the directive were, at the end of the day, safeguarded because the strike did take place and 99 per cent of the teachers followed the directive without any problems at all.
It could just be a misunderstanding that should be quickly sorted out and the two sides will be able to sit at the same table once more and continue working in the interest of both teachers and the education system.
The MUT has made its point and the outcome of the strike shows that it has an overwhelming level of support from its members. The union must now understand that it is in the interest of its members that it returns to the negotiating table.