9th Congress of the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia
Published:
On 27 October 2018 the 9th Congress of the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia took place in Tbilisi. Amongst nearly 500 participants, official guests, including ETUCE President, Christine Blower, ETUCE European Director, Susan Flocken, ETUCE member organisations from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Denmark, Moldova, Belarus, Poland, Azerbaijan and other countries attended the Congress. The representatives of the highest state and political positions of the legislative and executive government as well as local self-government representatives also took part in the event.
Reporting to the Congress on the union’s work and developments, ESFTUG’s President, Maia Kobakhidze, emphasised, “One of the main achievements of our work is that a new stage of cooperation between the trade union and the ministry for education has begun, in line with the requirements of the applicable legislation and international labour standards”.
In his turn, Mikheil Batiashvili, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, highlighted that the successful functioning of the education and science system can be ensured by joint work only.
“We stand together for promotion and defence of quality education as a civil and human right and a public good”, said Christine Blower in her speech to the Congress.
“It is crucial that education trade unions, as the voice of those working in the profession, are able to carry out their work properly and are recognised as equal partners in a meaningful dialogue with governments and employers with the view to discuss and find solutions together to ensure quality education”, Susan Flocken, ETUCE European Director said.