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Partnership functioning, a necessity for an effective trade union
The meetings of SPASH Executive Committee and National Council were held on September 6, 2012, in the premises of BSPSH, in Tirana. The Meetings were focussed on:
The main speech was held by SPASH’s President, Mr. Bajram Kruja, who was focussed on the main theme, partnership problems, treated at four levels. I. Partnership with MASH This partnership has worked out very well. - Meetings have been held with the preparatory group of the new Draft Law on Preuniversitary Education System in Albania. - Meetings have been held with the main group of Ministry of Education and Science, MASH. - Participation in the discussion on the Public Television, TVSH, for about 2 hours with participation of Vice Minister, Shamata, and the member of Draft Law preparation Group, Stavri Llambiri. - Participation in parliamentary groups’ discussions, where SPASH contributed to improve the Draft, was deeply appreciated by them. In the meeting, it was emphasized, also, that SPASH ideas on some important changes in the Draft Law and the persistence based on arguments, made possible the existence in the Law on Preuniversity Education to be the following articles: Article 2, ”Definitions”, point 18, saying: ”Social partners” are the trade unions, with which the Minister signs the Collective Agreement. Artyicle 26, ”The Minister”, point “f”, saying: ”Signs with the social partners the Collective Agreement ” in the first level Article 29, ”National Council of Preuniversity Education”, point “dh”, saying: ”Two representatives from the social partners.”
District SPA Chairmen, already supplied with the Law on Preuniversity Education, were asked to work under the 5 th Congress motto “Every teacher to be organised in the trade union ”, aiming their representation in local councils of the Preuniversity Education. Further, SPASH’s President spoke on the work done by SPASH for removing the Order of Teacher’s from the Draft Law on Preuniversity Education. The Decision no. 517, date 16. 08. 2012 ”On changes in the salaries” was distributed and commented at the meeting, emphasizing especially: - Participation in the discussion with the Minister. - Participation in the final meeting of MASH, with the participation of the General Secretary of MASH, the representative of the Department of Public Administration, also the Finances Director, Human Resources Director and Juridical Director of MASH.
After the discussions in these meetings, the SPASH requests were met: the group payment from 13 000 ALL to 14 000 ALL. This way, the salary of experienced teachers increases more compared to new teachers, aiming to increase the difference between their salaries, to approximate European standards. At the new table for calculating teachers’ salaries for all categories, the incomprehensible options, which led to misunderstanding and open opportunities to different interpretations and not equal executions in salaries, were removed. Position payment is defined clearly for all four categories:
II. Partnership with BSPSH. In central level, this partnership is very good. We are part of the secretariat of BSPSH, as well as part of the national and international meetings of BSPSH, seminars, meetings, etc. We fulfill the statutory obligations towards each other. III. Partnership with FSASH. We are co-signers of the Collective Agreement. Both our trade unions are members of Education International, where we are really active. participationg in all important European and international meetings and othe activities. In most of the activities, we participate together. Only when there are union troubles, we interfere separately. We have had many disputes, which were resolved with patience and calmness. There have been disputes like: representation with membership, also because of political movements in 1997-1998 and 2005-2006. Gradually we reached over 50% of teachers with membership, but not by paying membership fee. In some cities like Tirana, Skrapar, Permet, Peqin, we have had disputes with membership fee, which were resolved. There have been disputes also in Mirdita, Malesi e Madhe, Librazhd, Diber etc.
Functioning of mutual partnership within our structures. SPASH has operated in accordance with its Statute. - We have organized 4 meetings per year of the National Council, according to the decision of the first meeting of the year, with annual thematic, but with changing possibility when necessary. - We have regularly organized the meetings of the Executive Committee, 4+2 per year. - We have equipped all members paying the membership fee, with the first level Collective Agreement, 15 000 copies. - We have been correct in distributing the 20% of the annual income from membership fee, for each district, according the Statute. - We have equipped with computers all sections in districts which have offices, like Tirana, Durres, Elbasan, Shkoder, Vlore, Korçe, Gramsh, Lushnje, etc. - Most of the sections were also equipped with materials like laws, Decisions of Council of Ministers on salaries, MASH guidelines, etc. To make clear partnership functioning and union situation, a questionnaire was distributed and filled in by every District SPA chairmen, gathering information on partnership on all levels, on cooperation, increasing number of members compared to a year ago, etc. Further, the meeting continued with discussions from the District SPA chairmen, where except the above mentioned problems, there were discussed also problems of the new academic year.
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