FSASH CELEBRATES ITS 20th ANNIVERSSARY

The Ceremony of 20th Anniversary of Trade Union Federation of Education and Science of Albania, FSASH, was organised in Tirana, on 26 April 2011.

Trade unionists, initiators for its foundation, distinguished activists and leaders of FSASH took part in the Meeting. The Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Dr. Myqerem Tafaj, as well as the former ministers Kstriot Islami and Luan Memushi, leaders of other national trade union centers, KSSH and BSPSH, and the Chairman of SBASHK Kosovo, took also part in the Meeting.

The ceremony was opened by the Vice Chairwoman of FSASH, Mrs. Fatbardha Keço.
The Chairman of FSASH, Mr. Xhafer Dobrushi, recalled the moments of its establishment, on 26 April 1991, and spoke on the achievements during these 20 years of activities.

He pointed out that FSASH was established as an important independent trade union, democratic and active, as a competitive alternative in the Albanian trade union movement, having as the main objectives, stipulated since the beginning, protection of social and economic interest of its members and teachers in general, modernisation of education and progressive development of Albanian society in general.

During these 20 years of its activity, FSASH, through trade union actions and social dialogue, has realised most of its objectives and is developed as an important trade union in Albania, having more than 20 000 members, building effective structures, not only in central, but also in local level with consolidated trade union sections and organising many trade union actions as demonstrations, strikes, like those of 1992 and 1999, as the top trade union actions, accompanied by real achievements in wage increase and working conditions improvement.

Collective Agreements signed with the Ministry of Education and Science, since 1998 until the last one, in power since 2010, have been the basis of social and economic protection of its members, as well as for progressive developments of education system in Albania.
It is important that, based on effective collaboration, these Collective Agreements are signed jointly with SPASH, which is an important basis for their concrete and effective collaboration.

FSASH is considered actually, as one of the developed trade unions in the region and wider. It is member of Education International, EI, and European Committee for Education, ETUCE. It is an active organisation in the regional, European and international trade union movement and has collaborative relations with many homologue trade unions abroad.
Mr. Dobrushi appreciated especially the assistance from Dutch trade unions, AOb and FNV, towards both education trade unions, FSASH and SPASH, supporting them in their efforts to consolidate their structures and to play an important role in prevention and elimination of child labour in Albania.

Following, the Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Myqerem Tafaj, took the floor. He expressed the best wishes for the 20th Anniversary of FSASH and appreciated the work it has done during these 20 years of its activity. He considered as extraordinary its role in education developments and democratisation of Albanian society in general.
He also pointed out the following:
The Ministry of Education and Science appreciates the social partnership with trade unions, especially regarding educational policies, improvement of educational legal framework, reformation and democratisation of education system in Albania.
A very good example of collaboration is the Collective Agreement in power, which
Stipulates all the problems related to labour relations, salaries, remunerations, working hours, working conditions, as well as some obligations from teachers for quality education and progressive developments of education in our country.

He appreciated the active engagement of FSASH, its effective role in social dialogue with the Ministry, its real and effective attitude and demands, on behalf of its members and so on.
He considered the 20th anniversary of FSASH and important event of the democracy in Albania and invited the representatives of FSASH for a continuous collaboration in the future, promising his personal support, in the respect of active commitment of FSASH and the noble work that teachers do in Albanian education system.

Following, the Meeting was greeted by the President of The Union of Independent Trade Union of Albania, BSPSH, Mr. Gezim Kalaja, the President of The Confederation of the Trade Unions of Albania, Mr. Kole Nikollaj, the Chairman of the SBASHK Kosovo, Mr. Ali Shabanaj and the Vice President of SPASH, Mr. Defrim Spahiu.

On behalf of the Presidency of FSASH, Mr. Stavri Liko, General Secretary of FSASH, announced names of leaders, and activists of FSASH, awarded with Honored Certifications.

Informal discussions followed during the cocktail organised by the end of this Ceremony.