Ei-iE

Peter Marshall / Demotix Images
Peter Marshall / Demotix Images

Trade union rights are human rights

Trade unionists are far too often subject to attacks by repressive governments. Every year, many are subjected to violence, arrest and imprisonment, torture and even murder. Trade union leaders in education are targeted by non-democratic governments who seek total control of education, and deny teachers and education support personnel their rights.

Even in democratic countries, many education workers are denied the right to join unions and/or engage in collective bargaining. Where bargaining exists, limits on its scope can be imposed. Moreover, teachers and education support personnel are denied the right to strike.

Education International also supports the right of students to organise and join the fight for more inclusive and democratic communities.

Working closely with our member organisations, other global unions and human rights networks, we use supervisory mechanisms at the national, regional and global levels to ensure rights and standards are respected and social dialogue is effective.

Solidarity actions among our global membership are a powerful tool to advance rights everywhere.

Our work in this area

  1. News 7 May 2020

    Senegal: recovering education at all levels while saving lives

    Members of teacher unions in Senegal want to avoid the current school and university year being left “blank” because of the COVID-19 epidemic. While they acknowledge that distance learning is helping education to continue, they insist on an organised recovery of the academic year at educational facilities with proper safety...

    Senegal: recovering education at all levels while saving lives
  2. News 6 May 2020

    Burkina Faso: Health and safety issues to be addressed before schools reopen

    Teacher unions in Burkina Faso are urging public authorities to ensure that adequate safety measures are in place for students and educators before the reopening of schools scheduled for 11 May. The unions recognise that remote teaching and learning is not happening uniformly throughout the country and cannot replace education...

    Burkina Faso: Health and safety issues to be addressed before schools reopen
  3. News 5 May 2020

    Latin America: Women Education Workers Unite in the Face of Pandemic

    Representatives from the gender, equity and equality units of EI member unions across Latin America were invited by the regional office to participate in a virtual meeting last Wednesday to reflect on the situation of women in general, and women educators in particular, in the time of COVID-19.

    Latin America: Women Education Workers Unite in the Face of Pandemic
  4. News 5 May 2020

    USA: Teacher union presents roadmap to safely reopen schools and communities

    The American Federation of Teachers has launched a blueprint providing guidance for safely and responsibly reopening school buildings and other institutions and imagining a ‘new normal’ for public education, public health, and the economy in the age of COVID-19.

    USA: Teacher union presents roadmap to safely reopen schools and communities
  5. News 4 May 2020

    EI Asia-Pacific Regional Committee adopts statement on COVID-19

    The statement adopted by the Asia-Pacific Regional Committee cites the divergent approaches of governments to the impact of COVID-19 on health, workers, and the economy. It also stresses the lack of consultation of education unions, with rare exceptions, on questions related to the pandemic in the region.

    EI Asia-Pacific Regional Committee adopts statement on COVID-19
  6. News 4 May 2020

    EI African Regional Committee adopts statement of COVID-19 impact and re-opening of schools

    The Education International Africa Regional Committee, in a virtual meeting held on 20 April 2020, adopted a statement that focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in the region and urged governments to consult teachers and education support personnel (ESP) through their representative organisations to ensure that...

    EI African Regional Committee adopts statement of COVID-19 impact and re-opening of schools
  7. News 30 April 2020

    Romania: Distance learning to be used until the end of the 2019-2020 school year

    While all educational facilities in Romania are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federation of Free Unions in Education is ensuring that the current school year can be concluded under the best possible educational and health conditions and the return to school in September can be carried out in...

    Romania: Distance learning to be used until the end of the 2019-2020 school year
  8. News 29 April 2020

    Jordan: Non-payment of teacher salaries in the private sector affecting mainly women

    Despite continuing their work online, teachers in private schools in Jordan are not being paid their full salaries. Most of the teachers affected are women. Education International urges the Jordanian government to guarantee the fundamental rights of teachers and education workers and update national legislation to prohibit gender discrimination at...

    Jordan: Non-payment of teacher salaries in the private sector affecting mainly women
  9. News 27 April 2020

    Cameroon: teachers must get more support in developing their skills to help them deliver quality distance education

    While acknowledging that teachers had already been offered training to help them develop the skills needed to deliver online classes before the COVID-19 crisis had begun, educators should be better trained in the area according to an education trade union in Cameroon. Authorities should ensure that teachers are well-equipped to...

    Cameroon: teachers must get more support in developing their skills to help them deliver quality distance education
  10. News 23 April 2020

    Gabon: teachers support governmental initiative for education to continue through distance learning

    Although they believe the XGEST platform distance learning initiative launched by the Ministry of Education is worth trying out during the COVID-19 initiative, teachers, through their representative organisation, the Syndicat de l'Éducation Nationale say that they have strong reservations as to whether all students can access it. They therefore insist...

    Gabon: teachers support governmental initiative for education to continue through distance learning
  11. News 22 April 2020

    Iran: Leading teacher unionist arrested again

    Education International and UK’s NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union have condemned the re-arrest of Tehran education union leader Esmail Abdi.

    Iran: Leading teacher unionist arrested again
  12. News 22 April 2020

    South Africa: Union’s measures to ensure educators’ and students’ health and safety

    Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, the South African Democratic Teachers' Union is doing its utmost to reach out to union members, ensure teachers’ and students’ safety from the virus, and improve access to remote teaching and learning.

    South Africa: Union’s measures to ensure educators’ and students’ health and safety
  13. News 21 April 2020

    Canada: Education community mourns death of teacher during a deadly mass shooting

    Nineteen people were killed in a shooting rampage in Nova Scotia, a maritime province in Eastern Canada. Along with its member organisation, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, Education International mourns the many lives lost in a shooting rampage in Nova Scotia, including a teacher and the wife of another teacher.

    Canada: Education community mourns death of teacher during a deadly mass shooting
  14. News 17 April 2020

    Poland: Union fighting to reduce challenges posed by COVID-19 crisis

    During the current COVID-19 pandemic, education unionists in Poland are calling for increased funding for education and broad access to remote teaching and learning so that education can continue, and the health of educators and their students can be safeguarded.

    Poland: Union fighting to reduce challenges posed by COVID-19 crisis
  15. News 17 April 2020

    Peru: Threat to Labour Rights

    In response to the Peruvian government's ruling on labour issues, which allows private companies to regulate employment in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, trade unions have launched a campaign to demand the repeal of Emergency Decree 038-2020, which authorises the complete suspension of work, effectively undermining collective bargaining.

    Peru: Threat to Labour Rights