We have been silent for recent processes happening around ESFTUG as we did not want to make our problems open for public discussion. We tried to solve our issues alone, but recent events are developing in such a way, that our silence may harm union movement and Georgian teachers generally.
When government wants to weaken the influence of unions, they create alterntive trade unions. Former government employed exactly this method against ESFTUG.
In 2009, a Professional Syndicate was established where Educational Resource Center heads, public school administrations and other governmental figures were involved in making teachers join the syndicate. The main aim of a new Syndicate was to stand against ESFTUG and to conform the Ministry’s interests.
International partner organizations - ILO and EI recognised “Professional Syndicate” as a yellow trade union and refused to accept them as member organizations. In spite of all these, former government achieved its goal and ESFTUG lost its members in favour of “Professional Syndicate”. It is also worth mentioning that Taras Shavshishvili is a founder and chairperson of “Professional Syndicate”.
After the Parliamentary elections of 2012 government stopped oppressing ESFTUG and we started restoring and rehabilitating the organization. But as a surprise, after the elections, number of yellow trade unions continue to increase rapidly: founders and activists of a “Professional Syndicate” now have founded “Trade Union of General Education” and “Trade Union of Education”.
“Trade Union of General Education” was founded on 2 November, 2012. Among five co-founders, 4 are trainers at National Center for Teachers’ Professional Development, one of which is also a chairperson of Tbilisi Civic Organization (in April, 2012, she was appointed at position at Teachers’ House) and chairperson of “Trade Union of general Education” – Teimuraz Dzotsenidze is former leader and activist of “Professional Syndicate”.
Despite establishing the abovementioned organization by ignoring the requirements of the law and having no members, the Ministry recognised them as trade unions. The abovementioned union started its activities by false promises and discreditation of ESFTUG. They publicly admit that they have support from coalition “Georgian Dream”.
There is also material proof for their statements as in particular regions “Georgian Dream” activists encourage teachers to join “Trade Union of General Education”. For instance, in Nadzaladevi region, Georgian Dream activist – Lidia Nodia, “Georgian Dream” movement chairperson in Adigeni – Levan Lobjanide, his assistant – Lia Minadze have tried to involve teachers in the abovementioned trade union.
In addition, according to Georgian legislation, in order to establish a trade union, it is necessary to have at least 50 initiators (employees), while “Trde Union of General Education” is founded by 5 persons. ESFTUG has addressed the National Agency for Public Registry of the Ministry of Justice and governing board of the Ministry of Justice about this issue several times.
As a result, on 30 August, this year, in order to correct the legal mistake, public registry changed founders’ list after 10 months of its foundation. Hence, we are interested whether our demand was lawful and if it was not, why was the abovementioned documentation changed.
On 15 November this year the Agency sent ESFTUG an official letter notifying that a disciplinary penalty had been imposed on an employee at national agency of public registry for not fulfilling the duties adequately.
To cut a long story short, an organization which was founded illegally has been implementing its actions during 10 months, though they did not have right to function and hence we consider that public registry made unlawfull decision. It is also worth mentioning that among the founders of the trade union, together with former Syndicate leaders there are also Georgian Dream activists.
While trade union representsan apolitical union of employees, why do political activists take part in its establishement? There are also employees of Teachers’ House among them. All these indicate that organiation is not governed bottom-up but rather is controlled by the government.
International organizations evaluate current situation as implicit support for advancement of yellow trade unions. We are far form the view that central government is involved in this illegitimate processes, but we are deeply concerned by their inactivity to eradicte existing cases of violation of law, while we addressed them with this issue several times.
The abovementioned trade union members spent a lot of money on organizing meetings with teachers. To be more specific, we will give the following example: Our organization has more than 30 000 members and our income comprises of membership dues. We also implement n international project under financial assistance of US Department of State and receive financial support from international organizations as well.
At the same time, the abovementioned trade union has few members, so its financial stability relies on external resources rather than membership fees. It is surprising that these funds allow them to hold meetings with teachers across the country. In addition, salaries of regional coordinators are 6-8 times higher than ours. We think that respective entities should be interested to research more about their funding sources and its legitimacy.
“Professional Union of Education” was founded on 17 September, this year. It has a president – Giorgi Latsabidze, who is also a head of “Professional Syndicate” a union that had been founded by former government in 2009.
Among three co-founders, there is Maka Bejanishvili, a director of public school #87 (i.e. an employer).
In official documents of the organization, we also notice the name of Petre Tsurtsumia, who had been a head of legal service office at the Ministry of Education and Science and since 2011 - a deputy director of Quality Assurance Office of the Ministry of Education and Science. By the time when he occupied the abovementioned governmental positions, various changes were made in internal normative acts of the Ministry that resulted in massive dismissal of teachers.
For instance, in 2010, ammendments were made to the order #959 “Regarding Obligatory Terms of Labour Agreement between School and Teacher” that omitted the necessary procedures for teachers' dismissal. Mr Tsurtsumia was involved in selling public schools, optimization, reorganization, liquidation, and termination of authorisation for higher education institutions.
So, during those years, Mr Tsurtsumia was involved in activities that violated teachers’ interests whilst now together with “Professional Union of Education” he holds meetings in kindergartens subordinated to Tbilisi City Hall.
By false promises and administrative resources they try to attract kindergarten teachers to their organization. For example, they indicate that kindergarten teachers’ salary will increase up to 900 GEL.
We are not against creation of other unions, but it shall be established by teachers' initiative, by following fundamental values of the trade union and democracy.
The reason for our concern is the fact of founding trade unions for non-unionist purposes that will cause misunderstanding among teachers and will eventually make them lose faith in union movement. We have enough evidences to justify our fears.
Trade union represents a professional unity and not a political one. Based on existing Georgian legislation, as well as international legal norms, trade union is an apolitical organization. “ – says Maia Kobakhidze.