The University Students' Council (KSU) is ready to take more 'concrete action' if the UHM - Voice of the workers directives at the institution persist, KSU President Jeremy Mifsud Bonnici said on Wednesday.

The UHM Voice of the Workers has issued a series of directives for administrative, technical, and industrial workers at the University of Malta, which came into effect last week.

In a statement announcing the directives, the union said that it initiated this move as a result of an industrial dispute recorded on 27 November of last year. The issue arose after both the University's administration and the Ministry of Education continued to drag their feet on the finalisation of the renewed collective agreement for these workers, which had expired in December 2021, the union said.

Mifsud Bonnici said that the council sympathises with the union, however said the KSU will continue assessing the situation and does not exclude taking "concrete action", such as through petitions and press conferences.

In a Facebook statement, the student council said that "the current directives aimed at putting pressure on the negotiating parties to move forward with a new collective agreement seem to be impeding the ability of university staff to carry out their essential responsibilities effectively. Such resulting impact is inevitably affecting the students in a crucial time right before the January Assessment period."

Some of the directives in place issued by the UHM include: No Teams/Zoom meetings or in-person meetings will take place; No communication by telephone between offices and university sites will take place; No minutes during meetings will be taken; and workers will not scan or make photocopies; They will not make classroom arrangements, Those in the dental department cannot take X-rays, and the list goes on.

In comments to this newsroom, the KSU president said that many students have gotten in contact with the council complaining how they have had their lectures cancelled whilst others are not able to do their usual work, which might include the use of technology such as scanning or the taking of X-rays.

Others have also complained of board meetings being cancelled, whilst current and future Erasmus students are having their queries ignored.

After getting in touch with the UHM following the issuing of a press statement on Facebook, Mifsud Bonnici said that the Union is supportive of the council's pressure on government and university.

Contacted by this newsroom, speaking on behalf of the Union, UHM Assistant Director: Education & Social Solidarity Section Isabelle Farrugia said that it would not want to issue directives that impact students, but said that unfortunately in an area like the university there are certain indirect implications, in this case on students."

"We didn't want to issue directives but if you don't reach agreement that's what you have to do."

She said that the union had sent a proposal regarding wages back in August. The university told the union that they were waiting approval from the finance department, she said. The union gave them until mid-November to get back to them, she said, but no response was given. As a result, the union registered an industrial dispute on 27 November of last year. She said that since then the union tried to talk with everyone, including the university and others, but it has not received a proposal and that is why directives were issued. She said that since the directives were issued they only received informal communication.

The union did not exclude taking issuing further directives.

Studenti Graffitti Supports University Staff Industrial Action

Studenti Graffitti, the student wing of Moviment Graffitti, stated their support for the University of Malta's technical and administrative staff as they follow the directives issued by UĦM. 

"Whilst we are aware that these actions have come at a sensitive time for students and we too are being affected by them, we recognise that these actions are a final and urgent effort from the university staff to obtain a collective agreement which they have been owed since December 2021."

"The focus of criticism should not be on the workers and the union who are rightfully taking the necessary action to stand up for their rights, but on the University and the Ministry of Education who have continuously delayed the process of reaching a fair agreement for the workers who keep up with the day to day running of the University."

"As a result of the University's prolongation of the process, both the students' and staff's interests have been disregarded," Studenti Graffitti said. "​​A University administration looking out for its students' interests should be standing alongside its workers to ensure they have the tools necessary to maintain its smooth operation, not delaying the signing of an important collective agreement that has now resulted in disruptions to our education. In light of the current economic climate of inflation and stagnating wages, we emphasise the urgency of this industrial action and will stand behind it until an agreement is reached."

PN says government is stubborn

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said that the government's hard-headedness is achieving nothing. "The Labour government continues resisting the requests by UHM and MUT for the finalisation of collective agreements that expired."

"This hard-headedness led to industrial actions by the unions, as the UHM ordered directives for administrative and technical workers at the University of Malta, while at MCAST there are industrial actions even for lecturers ordered by the MUT. This is due to a lack of cooperation by the government to prioritise these essential workers in the education system."

The PN said that the government "is not doing what it is expected to do, continuing talks to reach agreement. At the end of the day, it is the students who are suffering due to the government's stubbornness."

The party said that it became the norm for government to create unnecessary problems and then wave the flag of success after solving a problem it created itself. "The government keeps prioritising spin over what is needed and over what is in the best interest of the people, in this case the students and workers."

The PN said the government must "identify the needs of these workers, as well as their contribution to the education system, and go back to the discussion table. A serious government should not run from discussions."