The subsistence minimum in Ukraine is annually reflected in the Law of Ukraine on the State Budget. In accordance with Article 7, paragraph 3 of the State Budget 2023 https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2710-20#Text, the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons was UAH 2684. The average salary at TDATU in 2023 was UAH 21078.00. Only 6 out of 615 employees (1%) who were on downtime received a salary below the subsistence level.
There is a trade union organisation at TSATU that operates in accordance with the Regulations on the Primary Trade Union Organisation of TSATU Employees and Students. Currently, the trade union organisation of TSTU includes: 5 trade union bureaus of the faculties; the trade union bureau of the Educational and Research Institute of General University Training; the trade union bureau of management and administration; the trade union bureau of students and 7 commissions:
– Commission on organisational and mass work;
– Commission on labour protection;
– Commission on cultural work and health improvement;
– Commission for control over catering;
– Commission on work with youth;
– Commission on sports and mass work;
– Commission for work with veterans.
In accordance with clause 1.8, the trade union organisation of TSTU supports freedom of association and collective bargaining for all, including employees regardless of political, religious and other beliefs, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social and foreign origin, etc.)
The trade union organisation includes 615 employees of the university, of whom 418 are women, which is 68%. In addition, the university has a student trade union bureau, which in 2023 consisted of 4729 students, 1986 of whom were women, which is 42%.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day and professional holidays (Education Day, Science Day, Accountant Day, Library Day, etc.), the trade union organisation submits an order to the rector for encouragement, as well as organises a festive concert and other events.
Thus, the Collective Agreement between the administration and the trade union committee of TSATU is reviewed and approved annually at a meeting of the university staff. Clause 2.7 of the Collective Agreement http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/kolektyvnyj-dohovir-2023-rik.pdf prohibits any discrimination in the field of labour, including violation of the principle of equality of rights and opportunities, direct or indirect restriction of employees’ rights based on race, skin colour, political, religious and other beliefs, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social and foreign origin, age, health status, disability, suspicion or presence of HIV/AIDS, marital and property status. When an employee reaches retirement age, a new employment contract may be concluded with the administration in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Scientific and Scientific and Technical Activities”.
In addition, the University has developed and implemented the ‘Code of Honour of TSATU’ (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/kodeks-chesti-tdatu.pdf), which establishes general moral principles and rules of ethical behaviour for people working and studying at the University, which should guide them in their activities. The Code is a list of guidelines and values that must be adhered to by members of the TSATU community, both on and off campus. The general moral principles that should guide the members of the university community are the principles of legality, mutual trust, honesty and integrity, fairness, competence and professionalism, responsibility, partnership and mutual assistance, mutual respect, transparency and safety and well-being of the TSATU community. In accordance with clause 2.1.10 of the Code of Honour, the norms of ethical behaviour of employees and students require respect for the honour, dignity and personal integrity of a person, regardless of his or her gender, age, financial status, social status, race, religious and political beliefs.
According to the Collective Agreement between the administration and the university trade union(http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/kolektyvnyj-dohovir-2023-rik.pdf), clear working conditions are established for the employees of TSATU, in particular, clause 2.2 of the agreement stipulates that the working day for academic staff is 36 hours per week, i.e. 7.20 hours for a five-day working week. The working time of a research and teaching staff member includes the time spent on teaching, methodological, scientific, organisational work and other work duties. For other employees of all university departments, the working day is 8 hours, usually from 8.00 to 16.30 with a lunch break from 12.00 to 12.30. It is recommended not to schedule classes on Saturdays. If there is a need to hold training sessions on Saturdays, they are held together with training and support staff, who are compensated in the form of time off on days when they are not in training.
The duration of the break between shifts should be at least double the duration of the previous shift (including the time for lunch).
According to Art. 57 of the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education’, based on the production necessity and the schedule of classes, flexible working hours may be established for academic staff in agreement with the head of the department. Individual working hours are established for part-time employees.
In addition, the University has developed and implemented the ‘Code of Honour of TSATU’(http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/kodeks-chesti-tdatu.pdf), which prohibits abuse of authority in labour activities, including forced labour of university employees and students. According to clause 5.3. of the Code, violations of the rules are subject to sanctions, up to and including dismissal or expulsion from the university, upon the recommendation of the Ethics and Academic Honour Commission of TSATU. The Commission is empowered to receive and consider applications for violations of the Code of Honour and to submit proposals to the university administration (faculties and institutes) for the imposition of appropriate sanctions.
According to the Staffing Table of TSATU and the Collective Agreement between the administration and the trade union organisation of the university 4.2, pp. 8-9 (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/kolektyvnyj-dohovir-2023-rik.pdf), the salaries of all university employees, regardless of the employee’s gender, are clearly regulated and charged according to the tariff classification, taking into account gender equality.
The amount of allowances and surcharges depends on the academic degree, academic title or length of service. Both female and male employees are entitled to additional leave and equal pay for it.
Moreover, according to clause 29 of Section 4 of the Statute of TSATU (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/statut-tdatu_22-09-2022.pdf), the administration ensures timely settlements with institutions, banks, and other organisations, timely and full payments to the budget, including contributions to the Pension Fund of Ukraine, and prevention of wage arrears.
In addition, all members of the university’s trade union organisation are entitled to financial assistance regardless of their position, gender or age.
The University also has a charitable foundation, Tavria, which, following its Charter, can independently determine the procedure, forms and amounts of remuneration and incentives for its employees and other persons in accordance with the current legislation on charitable organisations.
The Supervisory Board of the University(http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/nakaz-mon-nahljadova-rada.pdf) operates at TSATU, one of the functions of which is to exercise public control over the use of financial resources of the University, including remuneration and gender equality.
In the event of a conflict related to the violation of any gender equality issue, including remuneration, an employee or student of the university has the right to contact the authorised person for the prevention of corruption at the university(http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/pro-universytet/protydija-korupciji/povidomlennja-pro-projavy-korupciji/) or the chairman of the trade union committee of TSATU (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/profkom/pro-viddil/sklad-profkomu/).
The University has a number of regulations governing the procedures for employees to appeal against their rights, including remuneration. Some of these documents are:
- The Procedure for Conflict Resolution and Grievance Procedure (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/porjadok-procedury-vrehuljuvannja-konfliktnyh-sytuacij-ta-rozhljadu-skarh.pdf);
- Regulations on the Commission for Assessment of Corruption Risks in TSATU (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/porjadok-procedury-vrehuljuvannja-konfliktnyh-sytuacij-ta-rozhljadu-skarh.pdf);
- Code of Honour of TSATU (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/kodeks-chesti-tdatu.pdf) and others.
In accordance with the Regulations on the Primary Trade Union Organisation of TSATU (http://www.tsatu.edu.ua/profkom/wp-content/uploads/sites/53/polozhennja-profkomu-tdatu.pdf), clause 1.8 provides for the support of freedom of association and collective bargaining for all, including employees regardless of race, colour, political, religious or other beliefs, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social or foreign origin, age, health status, disability, suspected or existing HIV/AIDS, marital and property status. The labour rights of all academic staff are stipulated by the contract, and for all employees, regardless of their position, the rights are defined by the job description.
The total number of students of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes is 4848. TSATU has developed a policy of practice-oriented education. All study programmes include an internship at an enterprise for more than 1 month. Therefore, the number of students with more than 1 month of work experience is 3065.