NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union – has joined Education International (EI) and the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) in calling for urgent international action to stop alarming changes to legislation in Ukraine that would devastate the teaching profession.
The proposals, which are set to be enacted next week, would:
• Terminate all permanent contracts for teachers by August 2026
• Force mandatory transition to short fixed‑term contracts
• Increase teacher workloads, leading to the dismissal of over 70,000 teachers
• Cut pay and allowances, including seniority and professional title bonuses
• Amend core education laws via the Budget Law, in violation of Ukraine’s Constitution
These measures breach international labour standards, including ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 151, and risk undermining Ukraine’s post‑war recovery by destabilising its education system.
NASUWT General Secretary Matt Wrack said:
“Teachers in Ukraine are already showing extraordinary courage to keep a semblance of education alive for children deeply traumatised by war.
“To now propose tearing up their permanent contracts, slashing pay, and forcing mass dismissals is a betrayal of their courageous efforts day in day out to try and provide an education for the country’s children.
“It is an outrageous assault on their democratic rights, on international labour standards, and on the futures of millions of Ukrainian children who are already carrying the scars of conflict.
“Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper should immediately express her firm opposition to these undemocratic measures, as should governments across Europe.
“The NASUWT stands shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues in Ukraine. We demand that the Parliament withdraw these proposals without delay. Protecting the rights of teachers is vital if Ukraine is to eventually rebuild as a fair and just society.”
ENDS
The NASUWT is urging members to write in protest to the Ukrainian Parliament and embassies, and publicly support the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine (TUESWU) using the hashtags #НІ_звуженню_прав (“NO to restriction of rights”) and #ТАК_три_мінімальні (“YES three minimums”).
