97% Of Maltese State & Church School Educators Join Teachers’ Strike, MUT Says
97% of public and church school educators are participating in today’s strike, the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) revealed.
“The effect of the strike could be visibly seen also during school opening times in the morning since school entrances were seen empty and without the presence of educators and students,” the union said in an official statement.
This is the first bit of information since the start of the strike this morning with initial data indicating that 97% of such educators are participating in the industrial action against what seems to be an unsatisfactory financial package.
“The one-day strike has been called by MUT due to the failure of negotiations with the government on the financial package of educators.”
“In the first comment about the strike, the MUT President, officials, and Council thanked educators for this manifestation of support towards the common good. Today’s support shows that educators are united alongside MUT, the sole union that represents them, and is ready to go all the way to obtain the deserved status and esteem.”
“The way forward is clear. The MUT has always said that it is ready to discuss the situation with the government and it remains open to such discussions.”
The public reaction to this strike and its preceding directives has been mixed. For instance, EP President Roberta Metsola called teachers the “biggest victims” of the government’s “hard-headedness” while Prime Minister Robert Abela backed the state’s proposal and called the industrial action “unfair on students”.
Do you think that teachers in Malta deserve more for their integral work?
READ NEXT: 'A Stain On Malta's Education History': Roberta Metsola Blasts Prime Minister's 'Bullying' On First Day Of Teachers' Strike
