Non-academic staff at the University of Malta have begun following the directives set out by the UĦM Voice of the Workers today.

The industrial action was initiated for administrative, technical and industrial staff at the university due to the delay of the conclusion of a collective agreement that would replace the one which expired in December 2021.

The union claimed that the university’s management, as well as the Ministry of Education, was “procrastinating” when it came to finalising the agreement for these workers.

The industrial dispute was registered by the organisation in November 2023 since there was no progress on negotiations on this agreement. The UHM stated that it has received no official response from the university, including when the negotiations will recommence.

These are the directives:

• No communication by telephone or mobile from the offices and other locations of the University
• Child Care workers can call but will not answer calls
• No communication via email, messages (verbal and non-verbal), SMS, or letters
• No communication through Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or any other platform
• No minutes will be taken during meetings
• No scanning and photocopying will be done
• No use of cameras, electronic devices, or other objects
• No preparation for any type of events
• Coffee will not be prepared for meetings
• No classroom arrangements will be made
• No 8pm shift for health and wellness workers. Appointments with clients whose service is provided before 8am or after 5pm in agreement with the professional are exempted
• Gardeners are to start doing manual work at 8am
• Employees will not update parents through the Facebook page or Illumine
• No planning of activities at the kindergarten or childcare
• There should be no observation for the children’s logbook/journal
• At the dental department, workers are to reduce clinical sessions and refuse to scan x-rays

Unless there is a breakthrough, the directives will escalate, the union said.

What do you make of these directives?