8.2.2

Employment Practice – Unions

The University of Thessaly (UTh) recognizes and upholds the fundamental right of all members of its community — including faculty, administrative staff, contractual employees, and students — to freely form, join, and participate in unions and representative associations.

This policy ensures institutional respect for trade union rights and student representation, promoting open dialogue, transparency, and democratic participation across all levels of University life.

Purpose

This policy aims to:

Safeguard the freedom of association, organization, and collective representation for both employees and students;

Promote a collaborative and respectful environment between University leadership, employee unions, and student unions;

Ensure compliance with Greek and international labor and education laws protecting union and student rights;

Foster social dialogue and participatory governance as core values of the University;

Contribute to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Legal and Strategic Framework

This policy is governed by:

Law 1264/1982, on trade unions and collective labor rights;

Law 4808/2021, modernizing Greek labor law and strengthening worker protections;

Law 4957/2022, Articles 88–91 and 144–147, recognizing student representation and union participation within higher education governance;

Law 1268/1982, as amended, defining the role of student unions and representative student bodies;

Constitution of Greece, Article 23 (Freedom of association and union activity);

ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98 (Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining);

European Pillar of Social Rights, Principle 8 (“Social dialogue and involvement of workers”);

University of Thessaly Governance and Social Responsibility Strategy 2030.

Scope

This policy applies to:

All University employees, including faculty, administrative staff, and contract personnel;

All recognized staff unions and professional associations operating within the University;

All student unions, representative student councils, and officially recognized student bodies at department, school, and university level.

Key Provisions

Recognition of Unions and Representative Bodies

The University of Thessaly formally recognizes all staff and student unions operating within its institutional framework.

Recognition includes:

Faculty and administrative staff unions,

Unions of special teaching, laboratory, and technical personnel,

Unions of contract and outsourced workers, and

Student unions and federations, including the Central Student Union of the University.

The University guarantees the independence and autonomy of all unions in accordance with Greek law.

Freedom of Association

All members of the University community have the unrestricted right to form or join unions and representative bodies of their choosing.

No person shall face discrimination, disadvantage, or retaliation for participating in union or student activities.

The University supports an inclusive and democratic institutional culture that values representation and collective participation.

Collective Representation and Dialogue

The University actively supports structured dialogue with recognized unions and student representatives.

The administration commits to holding regular meetings with:

Staff union representatives, at least twice per year, and

Student union representatives, at least once per semester.

Discussions may address employment conditions, study environment, equality, health and safety, and campus well-being.

The University recognizes student unions as integral participants in governance processes, particularly within Senate committees and faculty councils.

Protection and Non-Discrimination

The University explicitly prohibits any form of retaliation or discrimination against individuals for union or student representation activities.

Union and student representatives shall be allowed reasonable time and access to fulfill their duties without adverse employment or academic consequences.

Alleged violations of these protections will be handled confidentially through the Office of Social Responsibility and the Legal Affairs Office.

Transparency and Institutional Cooperation

The University maintains a registry of recognized unions and student associations, including contact points and representatives.

Agreements and decisions arising from union or student consultations are made publicly available on the University’s website.

Annual reporting on labor relations, student representation, and social dialogue will be included in the University’s Social Responsibility Report.

Governance

Responsible Authority: Rector

Operational Oversight: Administrative Office

Supporting Units: Legal Affairs Office and Directorate of Student Affairs

Review

This policy will be reviewed every three years or earlier if labor or education legislation changes.

Through this policy, the University of Thessaly reaffirms its commitment to freedom of association, social dialogue, and student participation, promoting an inclusive, fair, and democratic academic environment.