ESFTUG president Maia Kobakhidze said that the Ministry had been ignoring the union for 11 months and it continues to refuse cooperation with ESFTUG while supporting Educaton Syndicate. As Maia Kobakhidze indicated, they have nothing against the abovementioned trade union, but it is difficult to understand the reason of ESFTUG’s expulsion from the meeting, as ESFTUG represents the sole Educators Trade Union in Georgia that is recognized by international partner organizations. Ms Kobakhidze also mentioned tense relation between Dimitry Shashkini and former president of ESFTUG – Manana Ghurchumalidze, which resulted in the union’s withdrawal from various decision-maker commissions.
The Ministry Refuses to Cooperate with ESFTUG
After one-year pause the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia held a Public Board meeting; however they did not invite board founders. The leader of the Trade Union of Students and Employees of Professional Education and Trainings, Denis Davitashvili, who calls the Minister a coward, stated that the Ministry refuses to cooperate with trade unions but at the same time, actively collaborates with the union “Professional Syndicate”.