Fair Pay for Educators: Leaders of Regional Organizations Discussed the Findings of a Study

On June 16, 2026, an expert presentation was held in Lviv on the results of a comprehensive study of working conditions and pay for education workers in Ukraine, “Fair Pay for Educators: A New Model,” conducted as part of a partnership project between the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine and the German Education and Science Union (GEW), with the assistance and financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

The event was organized to present the study to all heads of the Trade Union’s regional organizations representing all regions of Ukraine, and to facilitate a professional discussion and expert review of the study in order to gather critical feedback and suggestions prior to its subsequent public presentation to a broad professional and media audience. 

The event was opened by the President of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine, Georgiy Trukhanov, who emphasized the importance of a scientifically grounded approach to shaping educational policy and decisions in the field of social and labour relations.

“Educational reforms must be based on research and professional expertise. That is precisely why the results of this work are important for the educational community. They create a solid foundation for further dialogue with the government and social partners regarding the development of a fair system of remuneration and adequate social protection for education workers,” stressed Georgiy Trukhanov.

The project coordinator, Deputy President of the Trade Union  Olha Chabaniuk, spoke about the partnership project between Ukrainian and German trade unions and highlighted its practical significance for defending the socioeconomic rights of educators.

“It is important to us that the issue of educators’ pay be based not only on emotions or obvious social justice, but also on thorough research and facts. That is why, as part of this project, we have joined forces with the teachers’ union and researchers. Our goal is to build a compelling evidence base for dialogue with the government and to secure decisions that will ensure a decent level of pay for teachers and academic staff,” said Olha Chabaniuk.

She also pointed out that the value of this study lies in the fact that it strengthens the voice of educators with concrete data, analytics and arguments. It not only identifies problems but also proposes ways to solve them. For the union, this is an additional advocacy tool, and for the education community, it is an opportunity to be heard based on facts and the real-life experiences of people working in the field of education.

The study focuses on one of the key challenges facing Ukrainian education: establishing a fair and dignified system of remuneration for teaching and academic staff during martial law and in the context of the country’s post-war recovery.

Expert researchers presented the results of a comprehensive analysis of the current remuneration model and regulatory framework, identified the main structural imbalances in the field of compensation, and summarized educators’ views on salary levels and working conditions.

Particular attention was paid to possible scenarios for improving the remuneration system, taking into account financial, legal, and institutional factors.

This phase is crucial for the further development of the study, as it creates a platform for expert dialogue, consultations, and professional reflection. During this phase, representatives of regional trade union organizations had the opportunity not only to review the findings but also to offer critical feedback, share practical experience, and formulate proposals for improving the study’s outcomes.

The event's participant, the heads of the Trade Union’s regional organizations, actively engaged in the discussion of the presented materials, shared their own perspectives on the issues raised, identified the current challenges faced by education workers in the regions, and offered suggestions for clarifying and supplementing certain aspects of the study.

The collected suggestions and recommendations will be summarized and integrated into the project’s final results, which will strengthen the evidence base for future union advocacy and social dialogue. This approach ensures the meaningful participation of union members in interpreting the research findings and facilitates the development of “bottom-up” recommendations that reflect the practical experiences and needs of educators in various regions of Ukraine. The comments and suggestions raised during the discussion will be taken into account when preparing the project’s final materials.

The research findings and the recommendations based on them will be presented on June 19, 2026, at the national news agency “Ukrinform,” with the participation of representatives of government authorities, social partners, the academic community, educators, union leaders, and the media.

International Department