Interview with activists of the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine

On 23 August Russia bombed a school in Romny killing four innocent people,   two teachers, a school secretary and the school director.  It was the latest atrocity in a long series of deliberate attacks on schools. In the first year of the all-out invasion one in every seven schools in eastern Ukraine alone was damaged or destroyed.   Education workers have had to cope with many different aspects of the invasion, the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign has interviewed several activists from the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine (VPONU).  The first interview is with representatives in the Lviv region and the second with a union representative in Kirovohrad region, the interviews were conducted by Christopher Ford.   

Ukrainian school bombed in Romny, Sumy region killing four people

Interview with the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine – Lviv

Please explain your own position/positions in the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine (VPONU). 

Nadiia Tanasiychuk – the Chairperson of the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of the city of Lviv VPONU, Halyna Ivashko – the Deputy Chairperson of the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of the city of Lviv VPONU, Nataliia Babych – the Council member of the Free Trade Union of Education and Science of the city of Lviv VPONU

Which workers do you represent; where do they work?

Predominantly, the members of the Free Trade Union of Education are teachers, mostly school employees, and in a minority, college employees.

There was already war since 2014, was there an impact being felt by your members in education in that period?

Thus, due to a lack of funding, the development of educational programs was somewhat reduced, as part of the budget was directed to the Anti – Terrorist Operation and to support ATO participants. However, the impact was not as noticeable compared to the beginning of a full-scale invasion.

Representatives of VPOMU in Lviv meeting with USC delegation in July

How has the situation changed in education since the full-scale Russian invasion in February?

After the start of the full-scale invasion, a very large number of educational institutions were destroyed and damaged. Accordingly, many children were forced to transfer to schools in the western part of Ukraine, or to continue their education abroad. There was also a decrease in funding for education, in particular, a decrease in the salaries of educators, the cessation of printing and the production of new textbooks.

Ukrainian children being taught in a class in the subway in Kharkiv durnig an air raid

The Russians have been bombing schools and education facilities, has VPONU been assisting those members affected?

Thus, VPONU provided humanitarian aid (food, clothing), as well as assistance in moving workers from the war zone to the western regions.

How have schools coped with the impact of the war?

Thanks to the help of Western partners, the reconstruction of educational institutions is starting in those regions where it is possible. Schools also provide psychological support to children who have suffered as a result of the war.

Has there been an increase in education workers’ workloads?

Yes, the workload has increased several times:

1. As the full-scale invasion began, schools became hubs for Internally Displaced Persons. In this regard, teachers were forced to set 24-hour shifts in schools, prepare meals, and come up with activities and games for children.

2. At the same time, all schools were transferred to distance education. A big problem was the lack of technical means, as well as interruptions with light and the Internet due to shelling.

3. The number of children in classes has also risen, thus increasing the workload on teachers.

Have there been any additional support such as additional staffing and resources to support education workers since the invasion?

No additional support was provided. Everything was provided only by employees of educational institutions.

Is there mental health & trauma support for pupils and also education workers?

Mostly, such support was given to students. It was not provided for education employees (or we do not have this information).

Has there been threats to education workers’ rights, wages and working conditions since the war began?

Part of the payments to educators was suspended, there was a threat of shortening vacations, rights were violated during the organization of round-the-clock shifts. Many schools were forced to switch to a mixed form of education and to a two-shift form, due to the lack of technical means, the impossibility of placing a large number of students in shelters, and constant power outages.

What has been the role of the VPONU since the invasion began?

The role of VPONU was to protect the rights of the members of the organization, as well as to provide legal advice to members of VPONU who have left Ukraine.

Does VPONU have agreements with the employers (Ministry of Education) for negotiations on behalf of your members?  Have negotiations been happening during the war?

A Sectoral Agreement was signed in 2020 between MONU, the Trade Unions of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Association of Employers’ Organizations in the Field of Education. On the basis of this agreement, labor relations are regulated in the field of socio-economic issues affecting the interests of employees.

Does VPONU cooperate with other trade unions in activities?

VPONU cooperates with other trade unions as part of representative bodies that represent labor teams.

What reforms and changes do you consider are needed to improve education now to ensure a just reconstruction?

The educational sector of Ukraine needs complete reformation. We believe that this requires:

– change of educational programs

– proper technical support of all educational institutions

– access to quality education

– teacher’s salary (payment for all types of activities)

What solidarity can trade unions in the United Kingdom provide for you?

We will be grateful for the support of our initiatives in the fight for proper financing and better working conditions, as well as highlighting the problems of Ukrainian educators at the international level.

A vehicle delivered to VPOMU for their members in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

What kind of specific support is needed?

In order to ensure quality education reform, Ukraine must first defeat the aggressor. Andriy Sokolov, a member of the council of the VPONU of the city of Lviv, is now standing in defense of our country together with hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. Therefore, we would be grateful for volunteer help, including medicines, drones, thermal imagers, and optical sights.

We would also like to exchange experience with our colleagues. And there is still a need for technical support of schools and teachers for high-quality education.

Interview with Tatyana Zueva of the  Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine –   Kropyvnytsky,  Kirovohrad Oblast

Please explain your own position/positions in the  Free Trade Union of Education and Science of Ukraine  (VPOMU). 

I’m the head of the Free Trade Union in my school.

Which workers do you  represent; where do they work?

I represent the teachers working in our school.

Tetyana’s video message to the NEU and NASUWT conferences

How has the situation changed in education since the full-scale Russian invasion in February?

Since February 2022 many schools have been destroyed or damaged. A lot of children and Ukrainian teachers have been forced to relocate within the country or move abroad. Every day, all the participants of the education process have to overcome the challenges of war: forced breaks during classes, switching to the remote or mixed format of studies, air raid warnings, and power blackouts. The full-scale war has made access to education worse and existing education inequalities deeper, it has negatively affected the quality of the education process and the student’s progress and has impacted the mental and emotional state of students and teachers.

In your City and Region there were 85,000 displaced persons, and a number of educational institutions moved to the area,  how have schools coped with the impact of the war?

First of all the staff of the school has done its best to organize safe conditions for the students while at school, forcibly displaced persons who are the students of our school are under the special control of the administration.

Has there been an increase in education workers workloads?

Yes, the increase has taken place as we have had two work shifts, because of long air alerts the educational process could be changed.

Have there been any additional support such as additional staffing and resources to support education workers since the invasion?

No.

Is there mental health & trauma support for pupils and also education workers?

There are various workshops, and courses that tend to help to cope with the current situation.

Has there been threats to education workers’ rights, wages, and working conditions since the war began?

Yes. We faced a reduction in job positions and the teaching loads.

What has been the role of the VPOMU since the invasion began?

It performs the controlling function in organizing the educational process and if it’s necessary we cooperate with the head of our local organization to protect the rights of our members. As a rule, these are the problems of firing from a job position.

The Russians have been bombing schools and education facilities, has VPOMU been assisting those members affected?

It supports the members with humanitarian aid. Luckily we haven’t got destroyed school and facilities.

Does VPOMU have  agreements with the employers ( Ministry of Education?) for negotiations on behalf of your members?  Have negotiations been happening  during the war?

Yes.

There is already discussion about the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war, some trade unions in the UK and the Labour Party have called for a ‘socially-just reconstruction’ – what do you think that should mean?

First of all the reconstruction should be directed to the most destroyed regions and to our defense.

Do you think a well-funded and resourced education service, accessible to all should be part of the goals of reconstruction?

Yes.

What reforms and changes do you consider are needed to improve education now to ensure a just reconstruction?

The full elimination of corruption.

What solidarity can trade unions in the UK  provide for you, do you have specific aid needed?

We are so grateful for your support and need your help to continue to offer strong political, financial, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and impose hard-hitting sanctions against Russia and those complicit in the war.