The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has ordered all academic staff at the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) to refrain from carrying out lecturing duties between 10am and 12 noon today.

The reason given is that of “exaggerated delay in concluding the Revised Collective Agreement which expired on 31 December 2006”. They are also directing their members “to refrain from submitting the First Semester Examination Papers”.

In a statement, the ITS said that negotiations have taken place and agreement has practically been registered on all the items. The union is requesting a reduction on the number of hours where teaching of students is carried out. The management is against such reduction of teaching hours.

The management is more than willing to conclude these negotiations in the best interest of all but above all in the interest of the students who are being adversely affected by these actions without any fault of theirs.