Comparative Analysis of North and South Cyprus’ Teachers’ Perceptions of Teachers’ Unions

Fatoş Silman,Ahmet Güneyli,Osman Vaiz,Nedime Karasel-Ayda

doi:10.1177/2158244020988283

Abstract

This study aims to examine the views of primary school teachers from North and South Cyprus on Teachers’ Unions. Qualitative research and a comparative case study method were used for the study. Thirty-seven primary school teachers from North and South Cyprus participated in this study. The data were obtained through interviews and analyzed by the content analysis method. The comparison of the findings of the research suggests that the functions of trade unions are related to the pressing issues of education, teachers, and the nation in both regions. Turkish Cypriots placed emphasis on education-related functions, while for Greek Cypriots teachers-related functions mattered more. Turkish Cypriot teachers assessed the functions of their unions to be more unsatisfactory than their Greek Cypriot counterparts’.

Highlights

Evolution of human civilization has witnessed long processes of people’s struggles throughout history
The Industrial Revolution led to increasing use of mechanical tools and equipment and diminished the importance of man power and labor
The views of teachers related to the first theme were divided into four subthemes: “education related functions,” “functions related to teachers,” “functions related to the country,” and “other.” For the first subtheme, participants emphasized that teacher unions performed functions such as “solving education and teaching related problems,” “carrying out activities related to education and teaching,” “dealing with the problems of schools,” “contributing to the enhancement of educational policies,” “guiding educational policies,” and “increasing the quality of education.”

Summary

Introduction

Evolution of human civilization has witnessed long processes of people’s struggles throughout history. The Industrial Revolution led to increasing use of mechanical tools and equipment and diminished the importance of man power and labor. This forced people into struggling together, with an aim to obtain and protect their rights and material provisions, make internal changes to stand against poverty and equality. Formation of unions is the result of endeavors of workers organizing to seek rights and protect themselves to regulate the relationships between employers and employees caused by the liberal economy, and to control the pressure placed on workers by the employers, who are economically stronger (Bascia & Osmond, 2012; Yüksel, 2000). Unions are organized structures for providing solutions to problems created by industrialization (Yorgun, 2007), with the aim of protecting the rights and interests of their members (McCollow, 2017; Tokol, 2002), representing a part or whole of employees (Lieberman, 2000), and aiming to provide benefits and rights to their members based on common and equal conditions (Eraslan, 2012)

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