A Study on the Evaluation of EducationUnions in Terms of Purposes and ActivitiesStated in their Constitutions

Abstract

This study aims to determine how education unions that have themost members in Turkey include the aims and activities in their statutes interms of the functions of the unions. Furthermore, it aims to identify howthe determined purposes and activities are distributed according to unionsand the functions of the unions. The study is a qualitative research in thetype of document analysis. Purpose and functions of the unions; theirperspectives on politics and democracy, labour relations, education anddevelopment have been studies on the dimensions of socio-economic andsocio-psychological functions. In the study, 27 evaluators selected fromfour groups as academicians, union managers, education administrators,and teachers were asked to classify items related to goals and activities infive categories. Based on the evaluators’ classification, the Fleiss Kappacoefficient was found. At this stage, it was observed that the Fleiss Kappavalue indicated a significant agreement. In the study, the constitutions ofthe four education unions with the highest number of members wereexamined in five dimensions. The data were analysed using the five-stagecontent analysis method. As a result, it is possible to suggest that educationunionism in Turkey has an organisational mentality that emphasises socialand political issues. It is concluded that it is necessary to conduct qualitativestudies which aim to determine the purposes of unions, their determinedgoals, and which mission they have undertaken.