National Science Section ‘SOLIDARNOSC’ (KSN) is a branch of ‘SOLIDARNOSC’ that deals with higher education and science.

The Section has been called National Science Section (KSN) since 1991, following the decisions taken by NSZZ ‘SOLIDARNOSC’ with regard to the organization of the branch movement. Earlier on, KSN had been referred to as Ogolnopolska Komisja Porozumiewawcza Nauki (OKPN). It was founded alongside NSZZ ‘SOLIDARNOSC’ itself.

KSN is comprised of higher education trade union organisations, the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) institutes as well as R&D units, all of them being voluntary members of the organization. The Assembly of KSN Delegates (WZD) is its highest authority. During electoral/reporting Assemblies, the President of KSN is elected together with the presidents of Standing Committees and the members of the Audit Committee. The KSN Committee is the highest authority in the time between the Assemblies. The Presidium is elected from within its members and decides upon the current activities of the Section. Additionally, in order for the Section’s actions to be more efficient, a number of committees, both standing and temporary, is created. Moreover, to facilitate the organization of KSN, its branches are created on the local level, some of which act as the local science sections. KSN is a branch structure of NSZZ ‘SOLIDARNOŚĆ’ and, along with National Science Section for Education (Sekcja Krajowa Oswiaty i Wychowania) and the Section for Physical Education, Sports and Tourism (Sekcja Kultury Fizycznej, Sportu i Turystyki) it comprises the Secretariat for Science and Education (Sekretariat Nauki i Oswiaty) of NSZZ ‘SOLIDARNOŚĆ’. KSN is also the founding member of Education International (EI), an organisation established following the decisions taken by International Teachers Unions (IFFTU) and World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession. Additionally, EI is associated with International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and cooperates closely with Global Union Federations (GUFs). The organization is seated in Brussels and affiliates 394 national trade unions representing 171 countries. The number of its individual members stands at 30 million (teachers and workers representing all levels of education). Moreover, KSN is a member of Union Network International (UNI-IBITS – the sector for industry, business and IT) and cooperates with the Council of European Professional and Managerial Staff (EUROCADRES).

AIMS

The central aims of KSN are specified by the following excerpts of the KSN charter:

• The Section’s aim is to protect the rights, dignity and interests of trade union members employed in higher education institutions, institutes and other education units.
• The Section promotes the development of education and science as well as aims to raise public awareness as to both the sectors’ importance for economic, intellectual and cultural growth and for the creation of national identity and for democracy.

ACTIVITIES

KSN takes numerous actions that benefit education and science as well as KSN members:

• It fights for the improvement of employment conditions, working conditions and for social welfare entitlement



• KSN aims to improve workers’ financial situation The situation, due to years of neglect on the part of the Polish authorities, is our key issue and thus, has been the most important subject discussed during our negotiations with the government. In the negotiations we are supported by the National Commission of NSZZ ‘SOLIDARNOŚĆ’. We have also held negotiations with the Polish Minister of Education as well as with heads of other departments, the Minister of Economy in particular. KSN discusses opinions and motions which are later put forward in the negotiations with Tri-partite Committee on Economy and Social Welfare (Komisja Trojstronna ds. Spoleczno-Gospodarczych). We also offer out support to trade union organisations in their struggle for just remuneration and higher salaries.
• It was due to KSN that the Polish Parliament accepted a three-step programme that increased the remuneration levels of higher education workers, which prevented the sector from collapsing.
• KSN has undertaken a number of immediate actions. In 1997, for instance, the inclusion of 50% non-tax deductible costs as the basis for income tax calculations was adopted at the majority of higher education institutions for employees whose work was protected by copyright.



• It promotes the development of higher education and science.



• KSN promotes the popularisation of education and points to the dangers resulting from insufficient funding of higher education institutions. It highlights the fact that changes to the system are necessary. It puts forward suggestions that might both have a positive effect on science and higher education and create conditions that would facilitate the completion of tasks to be performed by the sectors. Negotiations with national authorities are held with this respect.
• KSN carries out conceptual works that would help improve higher education and science as well as organizes conferences and symposia on the subject.
• KSN puts emphasis on the links between education and economy – it postulates mechanisms that would make transactors both take innovative steps and make use of Polish education institutions’ achievements.
• KSN participates in the creation and amending of laws concerning higher education and science.
• KSN gives opinions on the proposals of bills and decrees that apply to science. It puts forward its own proposals of laws. As a social partner, it takes part in parliamentary works, the work of Parliamentary Committees in particular.
• KSN undertakes actions that aim to reform the sector of education in a reasonable way, with special emphasis put on the restructuring of R&D units.
• KSN participates in the Bologna Process forming the European framework for higher education.



• KSN performs interventional actions that help trade union organizations and their members.



• Difficult financial situation of education institutions, the tendency to take arbitrary and unjust decisions as well as insufficient knowledge of particular laws often lead to conflicts between employers and trade union organizations that represent the interests of individuals or a group of workers. The majority of these conflicts is resolved by trade union organisations themselves. Yet, it is more and more often the case that support from KSN is required. It is then that KSN intervenes and comes up with amicable solutions. However, it also happens that cases need to be taken to court.
• In order to increase the knowledge about laws and their applicability, KSN organizes trainings for representatives of trade union organizations. It also offers legal advice and publishes papers on the interpretation of particular laws.



• KSN actively participates in the international trade union movement. International trade union movement influences the formation of numerous important standards concerning the living and working conditions as well as other norms relevant to education and science. This may support the activities undertaken by national trade union organizations to a considerable extent and is of particular importance for the Polish trade union movement, especially in the context of unifying Europe.



• KSN representatives take part in conferences, seminars and congresses organized by foreign and international trade unions.
• KSN co-organizes conferences, symposia and international trainings.
• Mutual cooperation is developed, with German trade unions in particular.



• KSN is responsible for circulating information among the affiliated trade unions and promotes the Section’s external activities.



• The Section’s bulletin ‘Wiadomosci KSN’ is published; the Section’s web page is edited and updated.
• Materials for the public are distributed from time to time with the purpose of raising public awareness of the problems concerning science and education and the sectors’ significance for society.



• Humanitarian actions are introduced.



• Scholarship assistance fund ‘Kresy’ was created; it helps foreigners who wish to study at higher education institutions in Poland.

National Science Section sees Polish science as a whole. Yet, higher education institutions are divided into three departments: the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), R&D units and higher education institutions. Each of the departments differs from the others with respect to its regulations, the funding system and the scope of activities. It is KSN’s aim to create conditions that would make it possible to all of the institutions to perform large-scale educational, scientific and implementation tasks.

In time, the products of human mind, scientific publications in particular and new implementation works based on those publications will become valuable trade products forming the basis of a country’s economic status. Science and education go far beyond material achievements. Science continues to provide people with new opportunities and the development of both education and science are the vital components triggering Poland’s comprehensive development.

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KSN Online website content

KSN Online (Strona główna) - Main site, actual information (in Polish)
Info - General information and KSN Authorities (in Polish, in English) - this site
Aktualności - News (in Polish)
Dokumenty - Basic trade union and branch documents (in Polish)
Biuletyn - Bulletin named 'Wiadomości KSN' (KSN News) from Nr. 1/1995 until last numbers, in pdf format (in Polish)
Blog J.S. - Blog of Main Editor of "Wiadomości KSN" bulletin
KSN IB - Basic information and news from KSN R&D Institutes and Centres (in Polish)
RSN Katowice - Basic information and news from Regional Science Section - Upper Silesia Region (in Polish)
DLA MEDIÓW - Information for media
Za granicą - Foreign affairs (in Polish, selected texts in English)
Komisje KSN - Links to KSN commissions homesites (in Polish)
Linki - Useful links (Polish and foreign)
Archiwum - About one of our General Assembly of Delegates (in Polish)