The congress of the Eurasian Association of Trade Union Organizations of the Universities was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Dagestan State University. It took place from 6 to 9 October. The main topic for the discussion at the annual event was “The role of trade union organizations of the universities in the implementation of legal regulation of labor relations and increasing social security of the staff in the conditions of the pandemic”.
Chairmen of the trade union organizations of 47 universities from 7 countries – Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, as well as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic participated in the work of the congress.
The solemn opening of the XXXIII Congress of the Eurasian Association of Trade Union Organizations of the Universities took place in the hall of sessions of the Academic Council of Dagestan State University.
The opening remarks of the congress were made by the President of the EATUOU I. Kotlobovsky. The rector of DSU M. Rabadanov also made an opening speech.
I. Kotlobovsky read the welcome letter of the Chairman of the Union of Rectors of Russia, President of the Eurasian Association of Universities, Rector of Moscow State University after M. V. Lomonosov Academician V.A. Sadovnichy. The following was noted in the speech of Mr. Sadovnichy in particular: “The EATUOU plays an important role in preserving a common educational Eurasian space, developing humanitarian cooperation between the staff of the universities in different countries. The association discusses and develops proposals on the most urgent social and labor issues in the life of the universities.” V.A. Sadovnichy congratulated in his speech the staff of the DSU on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the foundation of their university and expressed gratitude the management and its trade union organization for the organization of the congress.
Deputy Chairman of the All-Russian Trade Union of Education V.N. Dudin joined the event via ZOOM. He congratulated the participants and noted the importance of the association.
“Today trade union organization is the only functioning structure that is engaged in the affairs related to the protection of the interests and rights of the employees. The existence of the association makes it possible to unite sympathizers, to establish interaction and dialogue between them,” added Mr. Dudin
The chairman of the Dagestan Republican Organization of the Trade Union of Workers of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Magomed Amirodinov also made speech.
President the EATUOU I. Kotlobovsky made a report entitled “The role of trade union organizations of the universities in the implementation of legal regulation of labor relations and increasing social security of the staff in the context of the pandemic.” He spoke about the measures taken by the management of the university and the trade union organization to adapt the staff to work in COVID-19 conditions, forms of social support for those in need. He made a focus on the following in particular: “In conditions of isolation, communication was difficult, and trade unions are social organizations, we work with people directly. Therefore, it is important to determine the forms of communication with people, see what practices in different countries and universities exist, study how we influence people, what social assistance we provide in difficult conditions. For example, in the beginning of the pandemic, it was difficult for some people to establish educational process via ZOOM system, they were not used to work applying this method, and we sent volunteers, students to support. Assistance was provided in the delivery of food and medicine to those who had health problems and the employees from the risk group.”
On the first day of the congress, a meeting of the EATUOU Presidium took place and the participants laid flowers at the monument to the Russian Teacher. The ceremony was timed to coincide with the Teacher’s Day. Russian teachers were sent to Dagestan in the 1920s, because there were not enough local staff. Mostly those were women. They played a great role in the fight against illiteracy and the formation of the local intellectual society.
At the plenary sessions, the chairmen of the trade union organizations of the universities made reports on how their universities organized work to implement the legal regulation of labor relations and increase the social protection of the workforce in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and exchanged interesting work practices.
In total, 24 participants from all participating countries made speeches at four sessions. One of the meetings was held in the municipality of Tabasaran Community. During this meeting, the speakers shared their experience in organizing the educational process during the pandemic, assessed the use of technical means of communication between the tutor and the student, spoke about the progress of vaccination among university employees, the use of personal protective accessories and the problems arising from this, methods of social protection of the tutorial staff and students.
In addition to the main issue on the agenda, the applications of new members for the affiliation to the EATUOU were discussed. 15 new trade union organizations became members of the association. A new edition of the EATUOU Charter was adopted. Changes have been made in the composition of the elected bodies. Following the results of the congress, a Resolution was adopted.
Excursions were organized at the DSU, Derbent (Naryn-Kala fortress), as well as to the Chirkei hydroelectric power station for the participants of the congress.
