University Trade Union: International Experience of Functioning

On the 4th of February in 2021, a lecture-debate on the theme “University Trade Union: International Experience of Functioning” was held at the Faculty of Law within the framework of the cooperation agreement for research-teaching staff and students by Associate Professor of the Institute of Legal Research of the University of Zielona Gora, President of the Polish trade union “Solidarity” and practicing lawyer Izabela Gawlowicz.

Having extensive teaching experience in summer schools of the European Law Students Association (ELSA) at the European University Viadrina and at the University of Gdansk, participation in the bilingual Erasmus Mundus Master DIE studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, as well as significant trade union skills working in Polish universities, Izabela Gawlowicz highlighted their particularities of organization and purpose of functioning in higher education institutions; communicative aspects of trade union activity as a guarantee of active and balanced interaction between employees, students, and the university staff; practical components of trade union membership on the personal example of work within two Polish universities.

Answering the questions of the participants, the lecturer presented her own current understanding of the role and importance of trade unions in Polish universities, active actions of their members, prospects for trade unions as mediators in disputes between employees and employers representing the university, and gave specific advice on new approaches in the activities of trade unions of Ukrainian higher education institutions in order to make constructive changes and progress in building a dialogue between teachers, students and university administration.