education, science and culture trade union of slovenia - SVIZ

ESTUSEDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURETRADE UNION OF SLOVENIA

Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia(Sindikat vzgoje, izobraæevanja, znanosti in kultureSlovenije) is the biggest independent trade union in thepublic sector. The union was established in 1990 andcounts 39.000 members today.At the very beginning of its existence ESTUS focused mostlyon the realization of the members’ primary needs - salaries,enforcement of collective agreements and other employeerights. We later shifted our attention more towards legislation- we collaborated with the government, ministriesand other organizations in order to prepare new legislationfor sectors which we cover. Today, we try hard to dedicate asmuch of our time as possible to professional issues concerningnot only salaries and working conditions but pedagogicalaspect of our work as well.The majority of our collective rights have been obtainedwith great collaborative effort as we literally went onstrike every single year from 1991 until 1997. The power ofour trade union could really be seen between 1998 and 2002when it was enough for ESTUS to merely announce a strikeand have it voted through among its members and thedemands for a more appropriate and just evaluation of theteaching profession were brought into effect.

MembersESTUS is one of two trade unions uniting people employed inpre-schools, primary as well as secondary schools and theprofessionals employed in the higher education and sciencesectors (there is another trade union active in this field). In2001 we also became the representative trade union forthose who work in the cultural arts sector (artists arebeing represented by one other trade union).The membership of ESTUS is diversified; members come frompre-schools, primary, secondary, music and higher educationschools. We also have members who work in student halls ofresidence, institutions educating children with specialneeds, centres for adult education as well as in higher education,science and cultural arts organizations. Our tradeunion does not only include pedagogues and teachers, butalso administrative workers, auxiliary personnel and pensioners.ObjectivesESTUS is an independent, democratic and non-party organizationuniting the employees in education, training, scienceand culture on a voluntary basis in order to:- express and implement their interests in an organizedway,- protect their economic and social standing,- protect employee rights,- enforce the role and the importance of education andscience as fundaments of successful future of our country,- influence the shaping of policy in education, science andculture.ESTUS signs and supervises the implementation of:- the General Collective Agreement on Public Sector,- the Collective Agreement on Education,- the Collective Agreement on Research,- the Collective Agreement on Culture,- and brings laws into line with the government in thepreparliamentary procedureThe trade union strives to ensure the best possible financialand social standing for its members, but its main aim is toachieve an economic situation of its members equal to thefinancial situation of those employed in other activities.ESTUS endeavours to influence the shaping of the policy inupbringing, education, science and culture in an organizedand systematic way.

Due to the increasingly violent behaviour of some of theyounger students in our primary and secondary schools andviolence against the teachers, ESTUS decided to establish aspecial group to deal with the issue of violence and thedevelopment of effective strategies for its prevention. InMarch 2005 the union began with an anonymous telephoneservice where qualified experts offer help and advice toanyone employed in schools, or anyone for whom violence atwork is an everyday occurrence.Principles- Mutual solidarity of the employees, regardless of theirsex, occupation and education level,- political independence,- quality public education,- free schooling at all levels of education,- social partnership and collective agreements,- increase GDP share for education, research and culture,- consistent application of the National ResearchProgramme,- adoption of the National Culture Programme,- salaries which will be comparable with the social roleof teachers, researchers, guardians of cultural heritageand other expert staff,- due evaluation of administrative as well as expert andtechnical staff,- double-track strategy - social and professional partnership,- greater professional autonomy of teachers, researchworkers and those employed in culture,- greater influence of women in education, training, scienceand culture,- permanent professional advance training and promotionof all employees,- better working conditions stimulating high quality ofteaching and research,- care for redundancies.

Major Achievements1991 - The Collective Agreement on Public Sector is signed1992 - The Collective Agreement on Research is signed1993 - The basic ratio for tariff group VII is increased from3.10 to 3.25, base salaries of advisory staff are levelledwith those of teachers, salaries of older teachers withtwo-year university level education are also increased(as a result of a strike)1994 - System regulation of salaries in the public sector (asa result of a strike)Overall reduction of total working hours by two hoursand of the teaching time by one hourThe Collective Agreement on Education is signed:· First to introduce lump sum indemnity for unlawful dismissal,· First to secure protection for older teachers by reducingthe teaching minimum,· First to achieve accounting of the jubilee award on grosssalary,· Bonuses for teaching baccalaureate subjects and thosewhich are externally assessed as well as supplementsfor teaching three subjects1995 - Bonus for tutorship qualification- Salary brackets also for those employed in educationand training (as a result of a strike)- Bonuses for physical activity, for obligatory electionfor titles, for handling children, youngsters and students,for research work, for special strains and responsibilities,for management and tutorship1997 - advancement into higher salary groups1998 - Agreement is signed between the Government of theRepublic of Slovenia, University Trade Unions and theResearch Institutes on the restructuring of the salarysystem to make the salaries of university and researchinstitute staff comparable to those of other top qualifiedprofessions.All university teachers can be elected to the Senate; theacademic assembly is the representative body of all universityteachers, researches and university associates;lectors become university teachers and librariansbecome university associates.1999-2002 - Comparable rise in salaries for all employeesin education, science and cultureConstitutional dispute resolved in our favour1994 - against compulsory membership in the SocialChamber,- against the legal provision preventing non-pedagogicalstaff to participate in the management in institutionalcouncils.1996 - Permanence of professional titles and easier acquisitionof titles

HELD STRIKES1991: 16 April, 23, 24, 27 May and 10 October1992: 28 October1993: 2 and 4 April, 9 through 11 June1995: 31 May1996: 7 May and 22 May2005: June 16: a 100 ESTUS representatives participate in aprotest taking place in front of the Ministry of Health headquarters(1,000 participants all together); November 26 -1,500 representatives participate in the biggest demonstrationSlovenia had ever witnessed - the protest is against theupcoming social and economic reforms announced by thegovernment (40,000 participants all together)2006: September 8 - another protest assembly in front ofthe Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs headquarters(200 ESTUS members, 1,000 participants all together)

ESTUS is also a co-founder of Education International (EI)and has been its member since 1993. Education Internationalis the federation of organizations representing over 29 millionteachers and other education workers, through 338member organizations in 161 countries and territoriesWhen Slovenia joined the EU as a fully authorized memberESTUS is a member of state sector trade unions coordinationand participates in the following parliamentary committees:Committee of Culture, Schooling and Sports, Committee forthe Internal Affairs, Public Administration and Justice,Committee for Higher Education, Science and TechnologicalDevelopment, Committee for Labour, Family, Social Policy andthe Disabled Committee. ESTUS also participates in thesocioeconomic council operating as a consulting forumrelating to issues of economic and social policy. The councilhelps in the shaping, implementation and modification ofthe Social Agreement. One of its responsibilities is also toprepare initiatives, suggestions, recommendations andreports for the Government, the National Assembly and theNational Council.state on May 1 st 2004, ESTUS became a member of the ETUCE(European Trade Union Committee for Education). ETUCE,established in 1975, represents approximately 5,5 millionmembers from 118 teachers’ unions in 28 European Union(EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries.ETUCE is composed of national organizations of teachers andother staff in education being member organizations ofEducation International (EI) or the World Confederation ofTeachers (WCT). It has associated member organizations inthe Central and Eastern European countries. The total coveragein Europe amounts to 166 organizations.In the spring 2006 ESTUS established a Confederation ofPublic Sector Trade Unions in cooperation with 4 other publicsector trade unions. The Confederation represents 81,000members - more than half of all the employees of the publicsector.

Rights and Benefitsof Members- Legal counselling and representation through a networkof contractual lawyers and through permanent legalassistance provided at the headquarters and some ofthe regional committees of ESTUS,- financial assistance to members in need,- credits and subventions for advanced training,- subsidizing education for the acquirement of suitablequalifications for ESTUS members- cheaper voluntary insurance,- accident insurance,- low-price stays in 33 holiday apartments owned bySVIZ: at the seaside in Simonov zaliv, Izola, Lucija,Ankaran and Piran; in Kranjska Gora, Bohinjska Bistricaand in the spas of Dobrna, Ptuj, PodËetrtek, ZreËe,Moravske Toplice, ©marjeπke Toplice, Rogaπka Slatinaand Banovci,- favourable credits from the Workers’ Savings Bank,- organization of different cultural and sports activities,- acquirement of different benefits for ESTUS members.The membership feeaccounts for 0,6 % ofgross salary.42 % of the membership fee is used by the institute’s tradeunion, while the other part is allocated to the assuranceof membership benefits and for the smooth operation ofthe regional, national and international organizations.Humanitarian Activitiesof ESTUSNot only does ESTUS regularly help its members with financialaid, the union had in the past successfully carried outa number of humanitarian actions and donated funds forthose in dire need of help. We intend to pursue this coursein the future as well.So far funds have been donated for the needy Iraqi children,the youth health and summer resort in Debeli rtiË, for theconstruction of schools and the purchase of the necessaryequipment for schools in Burkina Faso, for the inhabitantsof Asia affected by the tsunami and the irradiation devicegiven to the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. We called outto all of our members and tried to collect 1,000 sleepingbags for the victims of the devastating earthquake inPakistan. The response was overwhelming. We managed tocollect more than we had set out to. In 2005 we celebratedthe World Teachers’ Day by inviting our members to donateblood; again, the response was unbelievable.

Organizational structure ofthe unionESTUS has its trade union representatives in the majority ofSlovenian pre-schools and schools, numerous faculties,research institutes and cultural organizations. These representativesare elected by those employed. A trade union (ina school, a research institute or a cultural organization)representative is the spokesperson vis-à-vis the schoolmanagement and is the first person to establish contactwith the regional committee or secretariat. He or she representsand protects the interests of the membership. Therepresentative convenes trade union meetings, participatesin the employees’ rights, obligations and responsibilitiesenforcement processes and presents the trade union views.The representatives are trained to advise their colleaguesabout the trade union work and are there to inform themabout the current activities, new developments, futureplans, etc.To ensure that the representatives get a proper training andare fully informed about the most recent developments andimportant topics which they need for their work, ESTUSorganizes educational seminars throughout the year.Regional CommitteesThe union has 28 regional committees which form the linkbetween the members and the management and secretariatof the union. Each regional committee autonomously overseesthe implementation of collective agreements in itsregion, gives recommendations to the main board regardingthe measures to be undertaken and is in charge of the executionof projects in its region. Regional committees offertheir members solidarity help which is within their financialmeans and ensures their right to free legal representation.

The CongressThe congress, the supreme authority of the union, meetsevery four years to lay down the general political frameworkof the activities of the union. The congress consists ofregional delegates - these delegates are elected by themembers, one delegate per 200 members but no more than50 delegates per one regional committee. The congressreceives a report on a trade union’s activities and programmeaims and adopts constitution. Delegates elect theSecretary General, the Supervisory Board and theCommission for statutory questions and complaints.Main BoardThe Main Board is the highest authority between the twocongress meetings and is convened when necessary, but atleast two times per year. The Main Board shapes the standpoints,findings and demands in the areas within its jurisdiction,adopts annual action programme and a financialplan, discusses incentives and suggestions of the executivecommittee, decides upon specific joint activities connectedwith the management of economic, financial and socialstanding of the membership and those employed in all activities.The Main Board has got 57 members.Trade Union ConferencesTrade union conferences of: Pre-school education,Elementary, music schools & adult training institutes,Institutes for Education & Training of Children with SpecialNeeds, Secondary schools & pupils homes, Higher educationand research, Cultural organizations all operate within thescope of ESTUS.Executive BoardExecutive Board has seven members, all presidents of tradeunion conferences and general secretary. Executive Boardexercises decisions and standpoints of the Main Board. Itbrings into line the activities of trade union conferencesand regional committees, evaluates the realization of presetdemands, is in charge of trade union’s financial matters,ensures that the union’s policies and decisions are alwaysproperly presented to the public

SecretariatThe secretariat assists the general secretary in carryingout the daily tasks. Furthermore, the secretariat offersservices to members and regional committees in the form ofadvisory and consultancy service. The secretariat, locatedin Ljubljana, employs 10 staff officers.Members’ notificationMembers are informed by up-to-date online notifications orspecial reports sent to the trade union representatives whoin turn notify their members. ESTUS also publishes monthlyarticles in the pedagogical journal ©olski razgledi.Design and Print: MatFormatTranslation: Sabina ©vajgerPhotography: Matevæ Paternoster, Rafael Marn, Jure »ehNumber of copies: 1000September, 2006

Head office andcontact informationSVIZ SlovenijeOraænova ulica 3p. p. 1961000 LjubljanaSlovenijatel.: + 386 (0)1 24 40 900fax: + 386 (0)1 24 40 920www.sviz.siinfo@sviz.si