The history of our teachers’ union dates back to the distant 1940, when, according to the resolution of the government of the Ukrainian SSR, a number of teacher training institutes were founded in the regional centers in the Western Ukraine including Drohobych. But the institute only worked for a few months, its activities were interrupted by the nazi invasion in June 1941. The institute resumed its work in November 1944. The war was still going on when the All-Union Central Committee of the Trade Union of Ukraine adopted the resolutions “On the Restoration of Trade Union Work in the Liberated Cities and Districts of the Ukrainian SSR”. In order to implement these resolutions, in August 1944, the Lviv Regional Committee of the Trade Union of Employees of Higher Schools and Scientific Institutions organized the work of unions in the region.
In different years, the teacher union at the university was headed by the best representatives from among the teaching staff, but the most memorable were Yaroslav Chobych (1964–1967), Vasyl Lityansky (1967–1970), Ivan Rodionov (1970–1975), Yaroslav Radevych-Vinnytskyi (1975–1980), Petro Feshchenko (1980–2000), Valentyna Otroshchenko (2000–2011). Since September 1, 2011, this position has been held by Olena Kutsyk.
Times have changed and the tasks of the union have changed. In the post-war years, special attention was paid to teachers who returned from the war and were in a difficult financial situation.
In the 50s and 60s, evening universities and schools of union activists began to operate. The union performed a social and educational function in the society for the full and comprehensive development of its members.
In the 70s and 80s the organization of competition was the union’s main task involving admission and graduation of students, implementation of advanced training plans, defense of dissertations, educational work in dormitories, sports competitions, maintaining university facilities, compliance with safety rules and labor legislation, etc.
In 1992, the union began to fulfill its main function – social protection of employees. The 1990’s were marked by mass protest rallies, strikes, picketing of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Verkhovna Rada with demands for salary payments, implementation of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine “On Education”, lawsuits to judicial bodies against the actions of the authorities.
The goal of the university’s union has been the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of its employees. We have become a public organization that consolidates people helping them solve urgent problems, prevent conflicts, consistently implementing in its activities the principles of social partnership.
Cooperation between the union and the university administration is regulated by the Collective Agreement and the Agreement on Labour Protection. Thus, the Collective Agreement includes clauses on the rehabilitation of union members at the expense of extra-budgetary funds, the payment of annual rehabilitation allowance in the amount of 40% of the official salary to teaching and support staff and administrative personnel when granting annual leave, student issues, etc.
The University Union Committee is the initiator and organizer of various events: New Year’s parties, concerts, celebrating public holidays, children’s matinees for St. Nicholas Day, etc. have become traditional. All this work helps to create a friendly atmosphere in the university.
