80 years of the ZNP (Polish Teachers’ Union) at the Silesian University of Technology
With the participation of the University authorities, the Polish Teachers’ Union, representatives of friendly universities and institutions, Students Cultural Centre “Mrowisko” held a solemn celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP) at the Silesian University of Technology.
The ceremony was an opportunity to summarize the activities of the union, recall the history and discuss the challenges that await trade unionists in the coming years. The ceremony was attended by the authorities of the ZNP and the Silesian University of Technology.
- Thank you very much for this long-term presence of the Polish Teachers ‘Union at our University - says the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology Prof. Marek Pawełczyk. – This is a very responsible role, consisting not only in taking care of employee matters, but also in understanding the role of the University authorities. The most important thing is that in many matters we find a compromise, we are able to discuss and seek solutions that serve our employees – said the Rector.
Today, the Polish Teachers’ Union is celebrating its 80 years. That is as many years as the history of the Silesian University of Technology. As you can see from today’s celebrations, the Union still has a lot of supporters. I wish you further success, perseverance, and satisfaction with this social work that the members of the Union do every day – said the Rector.
ZNP is one of five trade union organizations operating at the Silesian University of Technology.
- Currently, about 450 employees and over a hundred retirees belong to ZNP. They are still emotionally connected and involved in the activities of the Union - said Prof. Wioletta Przystaś, President of the ZNP at the University.
- As a union, we create a community of people, which stands for good working conditions and opportunities to develop their passions, because the University is not only a job. We are very often a confidant of employee problems and its intermediary with the employer, because not everyone has the courage to tell their supervisor about their problems. We also help in solving legal problems and support in difficult life situations – noted Prof. Przystaś.
As noted at the ceremony by Dr Eng. Janusz Szczerba, Vice-President of the Council of Higher Education and Science of the Polish Teachers’ Union, the activities of the Union are not only to protect workers’ rights.
It is also our efforts, appeals and protests that the government should increase salaries and expenditures on education. They should be linked to economic indicators and amount to 3% of GDP, as in some European Union countries. Meanwhile, Poland currently spends just over 1 percent of GDP on science – emphasized Dr Eng. Szczerba
The jubilee was attended by many current and former employees associated in the Polish Teachers’ Union.
- I have been working in the ZNP since 1970, that is over 50 years – recalls Dr Bożena Paluchiewicz, who in the years 1989-2010 was the President of the ZNP Council at the Silesian University of Technology and currently is the Honorary President of the ZNP at the University. – In the initial period of my work in the Union, we mainly dealt with social support for employees, such as organizing trips, running a welfare and loan office, or as it was in times of shortages, organizing packages or fish for holidays – says Dr Bożena Paluchiewicz, - Over time, the competences of the Union changed and apart from this social support, in accordance with the Statute of the University, we could, for example, give an opinion on the Rector's orders - he adds.
During the jubilee of the 80th anniversary of the ZNP, badges and distinctions were awarded:
- Title of Honorary President of the Section of pensioners of the Council of Higher Education and Science of the ZNP – Wiesława Specjał
- Award of Merit Organizer of Culture, Sport, Tourism ZNP- Ewa Krzych and Zofia Cichowska
- The Golden Badge of the ZNP – Bożena Dobosz
Distinctions:
Jacek Spałek
Bożena Paluchiewicz
Jacek Majewski
Regina Titze- Kołakowska
Stanisław Kondel
Mieczysław Labkowski
Janusz Guzik
At the ceremony of the 80th anniversary of the ZNP at the Silesian University of Technology, unionists from the friendly Universities, among others from the University of Silesia or the University of Economics in Katowice, were also present. The jubilee was also graced by short concerts.
History of the Polish Teachers’ Union (ZNP) at the Silesian University of Technology
The history of ZNP at the Silesian University of Technology dates back to the years 1945-1948. The first post-war Congress took place in November 1945 in Bytom. It was the basis for the creation of a unified professional organization of education, science, and educational institutions. The ZNP branch in Gliwice, the Metalworkers’ Union and the administrative staff section at the Polish Teachers’ Union were the foundations for the ZNP at the Silesian University of Technology. The first chairman of the ZNP Council of the Silesian University of Technology was Kazimierz Prynda.
In the first years, the Union’s activity focused mainly on the living matters of its members: The supply of food, the allocation of clothing, the organization of employee holidays. In the 60s and 70s, the Union was the main organizer of social, cultural and tourist life at the University, as well as dealing with issues of didactics, conditions for scientific work and issues of occupational safety.
The influence of the Union on the development and formation of the University was ensured by the official participation of representatives of the ZNP in the Senate and in the appointed Senate and Rectors’ Committees. The activities of the Union covered the most important aspects of the University’s life and addressed practically all problems of the academic community – from scientific and didactic, budgetary and investment to residential or tourist. A valuable social achievement was starting in 1968, after many years of effort, the University Health Clinic for all employees of the University, in addition to the one previously used by students. In the years 1960-1980 over 90 percent of employees belonged to the Union.
In this article I used the historical materials of the ZNP
