ESFTUG has been undergoing severe financial crisis for the last 9 months. According to the president of the trade union – Maia Kobakhidze, despite the Minister’s order to school directors, to abide by the law regarding the relations with employee's unions, ESFTUG still cannot get its membership dues.
Maia Kobakhdize blames Resource Center managers for refusing to fulfill the order and for discouraging school directors to pay dues to ESFTUG. Ms Kobakhidze states that the union has signed agreements with up to 500 school directors; however directors do not follow agreement terms.
The president also added that besides her willingness and readiness, the Minister still refuses to collaborate with the teachers’ union.
Tense situation inside the organization makes it even harder for the union to survive. Since Maia Kobakhdize’s victory in presidential elections, growing opposition made it impossible to approve the trade union budget. “We have right to utilize only 1/12 of the last year’s budget. Thus, the rest of the amount is spent following the rules of ESFTUG Constitution and Regulations” – Ms Kobakhidze asserted.
She continued with talking about the project “Face-to-Face with the Members”, which was funded by Education International and implies holding elections in 12 organizational regions. These conferences serve the purpose to elect ESFTUG regional leaders.