"Dear delegates and guests, at the 8th annual reporting-election conference of the ESFTUG’s Signagi branch organization, we should define the main priorities and tasks for future activities and tasks for the improvement and promotion of the organization" - Elena Somkhishvili opened the reporting-election conference of the organization with these words.

The conference was attended by: Head of Signagi Educational Resource Center Lia Bezhashvili, Signagi Municipality Mayor Gogi Gogilashvili and Deputy Mayor Temur Balarjishvili, Chairman of Signagi Municipality Council Ilia Khatiashvili and invited kindergartens’ and public schools’ principals.

By open ballot, Elena Somkhishvili was elected as head of the ESFTUG’s Signagi branch organization. She reviewed the union’s route from 2014 till today. In her speech, she underlined the success of the organization's projects. At the same time, she also talked about the priorities of the organization: "2014-2016 are the organization’s development and strengthening years, in which Ms. Maia Kobakhidze, the president of ESFTUG made an invaluable contribution." Elena Somkhishvili also identified the main priorities of further development of the organization:

Protection of labor, social, economic, legal and professional rights of employed in the field of education; Care for professional development of employed people; Increase the prestige of the teacher's profession; Maintain financial sustainability and further development; Further development of democratic governance principles, involvement of members in decision-making process; Strengthening the social dialogue mechanism.

The head of ESFTUG’s Signagi branch organization, together with other speakers, emphasized the salaries of the teachers and said that in Signagi the lowest salaries has kindergartens’ staff. This issue is the key and it should be done as soon as possible.

She continued her speech with the following words: "A strong society can be created only by educating the educated citizens, and the role of the teacher is important. We believe that more initiatives should be put in the support programs of teachers. In order to increase the prestige of the teacher's appreciation and proficiency, it is necessary to provide teacher with decent working conditions. Should increase confidence in them and establish professional autonomy - academic freedom. "

At the end of the conference, the head of ESFTUG’s Signagi branch organization awarded trade union’s members and principals of kindergartens with the certificates.

"Strong trade unions are created by personally free employees. We should be bold and openly talk about the existing problems and principally demand their solution" - by this phrase ended Elene Somkhishvili 8th reporting-election conference of ESFTUG’s Signagi branch organization.