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syndicate „education”with „Podkrepa”

Confederation of Labor

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ANTHEM OF SYNDICATE „EDUCATION”

WITH “PODKREPA” CL

Text: Borislav MirchevMusic: Iliya Angelov

Ask for freedom – it is yours!Call and strive in this world.Spirit finds the truth in our Syndicate of liberty. Support, solidarity and defensein our Teacher’s syndicate detected“Mainstay” – the love is calledWith us the human being is unique. Refrain: We are the ones!Millions - behind us – Storm like river in the spring.We are the ones – Young and free.„Support” –it is in our hearts. Friendship, unity and backing,Trust, support and dialogue.One family – truth and fidelity,Hope for Bulgaria and kin.

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DEAR COLLEAGUES,

We achieve the impor tant things in our lives so slowly and with enormous effor ts, while the time is rapidly and insidiously passing by. Panta rhei! Everything flows – every-thing changes! As if it was yesterday, when a small group of enthusiasts established our union, but 20 years have already passed – years of work, struggle, growth and getting wiser. Syndicate “Education” with “Pod-krepa” Confederation of Labor, has been born in the dawn of the democratic changes in Bulgaria, becoming a powerful structure at nowadays. During all these years, our organization is asser ting and defending the rights of its members, working in the system of education.

In this 20-years-period, we went through all phases of development – childish naivety, juvenile disobe-dience, youthful ardor, but we got our life lessons, we finished our universities and learned to fight for our rights, to work with institutions. In the course of events and new challenges, we have taken par t and still par ticipate in the preparation and renewal of the normative documents of education.

Syndicate „Education” has developed as a well-built and strong organization and today, it is one of the biggest structures in „Podkrepa” CL. Now, we are an enormous, strong and united army, able to resist the storms of life, at the same time, no one of the members has lost his individuality and identity. Each one member is of impor tance and value for us. We do not spare effor ts and we make our best to sup-por t anyone in difficult moments, at the settlement of problems arisen.

The most impor tant and responsible mission of our organization is to raise the role of the Bulgarian teacher, to defend his prestige, living status and just position in the society of Bulgaria. The well-deserved remuneration of his apostolic activity, making the quality and conditions of work better, are among the privileges of our struggle for spiritual survival and keeping up of our many-century traditions and significance worldwide, because all star ts with the school and teacher. The voice of the leaders of Bulgarian National Revival, of the toilers on the educational front, should be heard and we are the tribune, giving way to all that is good for the education in Bulgaria.

In all these years, our Syndicate gained the position and respect of the European and world trade union community. We have become a confident par tner, both in the country and abroad.

Of course, our work has not completed yet. There are many and substantial tasks to face, in the course of time. Each day, by each activity we do, we continue trampling down the path towards the future. We believe, it will become a wide and clear way forward and upwards, to our fur ther development and rec-ognition. The impor tant thing is to be together and to walk and look at one and the same direction.

Margarita Denkova President

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Syndicate „Education” with „Podkrepa” CL (Syndicate of Teachers) was established at a con-stituent meeting, held on 02.12.1989, by a small group of enthusiastic teachers from Sofia, at the home of Mr. Nikolay Kolev – Bosiya, as an independent union of teachers, with „Podkrepa” Confederation of Labor. A temporary management was elected, Mr. Oleg Chulev being a Chairman and Speaker.

On 02.06.1990, in Sofia, the First National Syndicate Con-ference was held, accepting the Statute and electing a Cen-tral Coordination Committee.

Confederation is the high syndicate body, the Central Co-ordination Committee being the executive body, consisted as follows:• Central coordinator – (Chairman of Teachers’ syndi-

cate);• Secretary of Teachers’ syndicate;• Speaker of Teachers’ syndicate;• Two central coordinators.

Mr. Dimitar Dimov was elected for central coordinator (Chairman), Ms Lili Vasileva - for secretary and Ms Teodora Kalaidjieva – for Speaker.

Syndicate „Education” with „Podkrepa” CL aims the defense of rights, dignity and professional interests of its members. It works for the democratization, humanization and deideology of education in Bulgaria, through democratic changes in the Legislation and Management of edu-cation.

Syndicate „Education” with „Podkrepa” CL:• Represents its members before the Employers, authorities and government bodies;• Represents its members before the public organizations and institutions.• Asser ts its requirements, positions etc., on professional, labor-legislative and social

issues;• Par ticipates the collective labor negotiations,

work groups and commissions;• Renders competent juridical suppor t and arbi-

trates in cases of arguments between its mem-bers and employers;

• Organizes and leads protesting actions of its members, at significant breach of the interests of those working in the field of education;

• Initiates changes of normative papers in the field of education;

• Organizes and holds seminars for education of its members.

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REPORT-ELECTIVE CONFERENCES HELD

02.06.1990 – I National Conference

01.06.1992 – II National Conference

26-28.05.1994 – III National Conference

30-31.05.1997 – IV National Conference

28-29.05.2000 – V National Conference

29-31.05.2003 – VI National Conference

16-17.05.2007 – VII National Conference

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NationalConference

Regional Syndicate„Education”

- Regional conference- R Council- Executive Council

Municipal Syndicate„Education”

- Municipal conference- Executive Council

Syndicate section

- Syndicate meeting- management of SS

NationalSyndicate Council

Executive CouncilControllingCommission

National StrikeCommittee

Regional StrikeCommittee

Strike Committee

IV level

III level

II level

I level

STRUCTURE OF SYNDICATE „EDUCATION”

WITH „PODKREPA” CONFEDERATION OF LABOR

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On proposal of Syndicate „Education” with „Podkrepa” Confedera-tion of Labor in:

1992 We established a specialized Council for tripartite co-operation, to the Ministry of Education and Science;

1994 In September – the first copy of the monthly publica-tion „Slovo” is issued

1996 The first professional pension fund was established in our country – Teacher’s Pension Fund (TPF);

1996 By Regulation No. .. related to salaries, in the field of education, a new approach was initiated at forming up of salaries – qualification, professional-qualifica-tion levels and length of service on the specialty;

1996 First Collective Labor Contract was signed for Sector “Secondary Education”;1998 National Assembly approved § 35 of the Additional regulations of Public Education Law for receiving

three extra payments within the limits of one work salary;1999 With the assistance of „Podkrepa” CL in Bulgaria, the Teachers’ Pension Fund was preserved until the

year 2009 – for earlier retirement;1999 Campaign was organized regarding the introduction of Public education in Bulgarian school, via inquir-

ies, discussions, debates, analysis, meetings in the Ministry of Education and Science ;2002 Conference on the thesis: „Challenges of the reform in education –now and in the future”; 2005 National Conference in Plovdiv on the thesis: „Public

education - effective means for preserving and de-velopment of the civic society”;

2006 Ministry of Education and Science introduced themes on Public education in the following educa-tional subjects: Geography, History, Philosophy;

2008 With the assistance of „Podkrepa” CL, the Teachers Pension Fund of pedagogical staff is preserved until 2020.

2008 National campaign was organized and held : „For better Bulgarian education”;

2009 Round table was held, related to the juvenile labor on the thesis: „Labor as dignity, not victim of society”.

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Syndicate „Education” with „Podkrepa” CL participated:

2004 International project – „Development of non-discriminative qualitative education for gypsy children” with the participation of Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary;

2006-2009 International project „Strengthening of Teachers syndicates in Bulgaria and increasing the quality of teachers labor” with the participation of Bulgaria and Holland;

2008 Web site of Syndicate „Education” was created – www.podkrepa-obrazovanie.com

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Our main purpose is a strong syndicate, to be able to successfully defend the interests of its members and help the democratization of education and society.

The strength and success of Syndicate depend on our knowledge, positions, actions. In order to be militant syndicate members, of clear position, we have to constantly increase and update our knowledge and skills. This is granted to us by the syndical education.

Syndicate has available well-educated and prepared team of tutors, formed up in April, 1995. Twelve Syndi-cate members of different regions in Bulgaria have been educated on 5 (five) basic syndical themes, by lectur-ers of the American Federation of Tutors (AFT). In the years, the team gained much knowledge and skills. It is constantly developing new themes, at the request of the members, and the qualified tutors assist the activity and growth of the members of Syndicate “Education” with „Podkrepa” Confederation of Labor.

Today, the team of tutors works on 30 themes, educating its leaders and members.Totally 1120 educations have been realized during its 14 years length of activity.

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1990 Par ticipation of Syndicate in National Strike, lead-ing to fall of Lukanov’s Government;

1992 In October – a strike was organized and held in the defense of interests of those working in the field of education;

1996 Par t ic ipat ion in protest meet ings and effect ive strikes, all over the country;

2000 Organized and held a strike for salary increase of those working in the field of education;

2005 Held strike for percentage increase of Gross Do-mestic Product for education and salaries;

2007 Initiated, organized and held the biggest strike of teachers in the history of Bulgarian syndical move-ment, lasted 44 days, succeeding in increase of salaries;

2009 May 16-17 – par ticipation of Syndicate in International Meeting in Prague, under the slogan „To overcome the crisis, placing people first”

2009 June 26th - par ticipation of Syndicate in National Protest Meeting against the eco-nomic crisis.

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Syndicate „Education” with „Podkrepa” Confederation of Labor is a member of the International of Education (IE) – the biggest world international teachers’ syndical organization, of more than 32 million members.

Syndicate develops its international activity in close relation with the International of Education, and with the syndical organizations of teachers from Central and East European countries.

Since 1997, Syndicate “Education” is a member of the European Syndical Committee, with headquarters in Bruxelles - Belgium.

Syndicate has good contacts with syndicates of teachers all over Europe and world.