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 17 September 2014

    Ebola’s ongoing impact on African teachers

    Ebola continues to hit the education sector in Africa, according to two of EI’s affiliates in the region, the National Teachers’ Association of Liberia (NTAL) and the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU).

    Ebola’s ongoing impact on African teachers
  2. News 16 September 2014

    Taiwan: Teachers’ union stands up for students’ health

    A national teachers’ union in Taiwan has called for the boycott of a major food manufacturer in a bid, it says, to protect Taiwanese people’s health, especially that of students.

    Taiwan: Teachers’ union stands up for students’ health
  3. News 12 September 2014

    EI calls for release of jailed Bahraini Teacher

    Falsely convicted as a political prisoner, Mahdi Abu Deeb, of the Bahraini Teachers association has received the support of Education International’s General Secretary in a video message that stresses his courage fighting for freedom.

    EI calls for release of jailed Bahraini Teacher
  4. News 4 September 2014

    Paraguay: Excessive repression against teachers

    When teachers in Paraguay took to the streets last month to demand a decent budget for public education, they were met with police force rather than having their calls for quality education heard.

    Paraguay: Excessive repression against teachers
  5. News 4 September 2014

    Norwegian teachers claim victory as strike ends

    The teachers’ strike in Norway has ended after two months with a new agreement reached between the Union of Education Norway (UEN) and employers. At its height at the beginning of this school year, nearly 8,000 UEN members were out on strike.

    Norwegian teachers claim victory as strike ends
  6. News 29 August 2014

    Syrian refugees get chance at education in Jordan

    The latest back-to-school campaign aims at sending 300.000 Syrian refugee children into the classroom this autumn, helping them work toward a positive future.

    Syrian refugees get chance at education in Jordan
  7. News 28 August 2014

    USA: Ferguson’s teachers and students seek refuge in the classroom

    As schools begin to reopen nearly two weeks late following the police shooting of an unarmed African American man, education is being looked to as a way to heal the wounds inflicted on the city’s students.

    USA: Ferguson’s teachers and students seek refuge in the classroom
  8. News 25 August 2014

    Norway: Teacher strike intensifies as schools re-open

    With nearly 7,800 teachers now on strike in Norway, the significant jump in numbers is a sign that educators are refusing to back down as students return to classrooms across the country.

    Norway: Teacher strike intensifies as schools re-open
  9. News 22 August 2014

    Sierra Leone: Teachers fall victim to Ebola

    The deadly flu virus sweeping across Western Africa has reportedly claimed the lives of teachers in at least two areas of Sierra Leone, a country in the eye of the outbreak.

    Sierra Leone: Teachers fall victim to Ebola
  10. News 12 August 2014

    Colombia: EI throws support behind university professor amid false accusations

    Education International has returned to the defence of embattled Colombian academic, Miguel Angel Beltran, issuing a letter calling for an end to false accusations and a politically motivated ban barring him from universities.

    Colombia: EI throws support behind university professor amid false accusations
  11. News 8 August 2014

    Argentina: Human rights crusader’s grandson found

    The grandson of Estela de Carlotto, founder and head of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (Grandmothers of May Square) and recipient of the 2004 Human and Trade Union Rights Award of Education International, has been found.

    Argentina: Human rights crusader’s grandson found
  12. News 7 August 2014

    Argentina: human rights crusader’s grandson found

    The grandson of Estela de Carlotto, founder and head of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (Grandmothers of May Square), Argentina, and recipient of the 2004 Human and Trade Union Rights Award of Education International, has been found.

    Argentina: human rights crusader’s grandson found
  13. News 1 August 2014

    Senegal: Unions support kidnapped Nigerian girls

    On the occasion of the Day of Solidarity and Mobilisation, Senegalese teacher unions, united under the umbrella of the General Association of Teacher Unions (Grand cadre des syndicats de l'enseignement-GCSE), have called for the release of the girls abducted by Boko Haram.The Syndicat des professeurs du Sénégal (SYPROS), a national...

    Senegal: Unions support kidnapped Nigerian girls
  14. News 29 July 2014

    Europe: Education unions highlight gaps in new EU Framework on Health and Safety

    EI’s European Region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), has issued a position paper expressing its concerns about social dialogue and gender issues in the recently issued European Commission’s Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020.

    Europe: Education unions highlight gaps in new EU Framework on Health and Safety
  15. News 29 July 2014

    Cameroon: Trade union rights being attacked

    Cameroon's teacher unions have condemned sanctions imposed by public authorities in Cameroon which threaten the exercise of their trade union rights by workers.

    Cameroon: Trade union rights being attacked
  16. News 28 July 2014

    Nigeria: Teachers fighting for security and minimum wage

    Teachers in Benue State in Nigeria have finally gone back to work after an eight-month strike in the struggle for payment of the minimum wage. And now teachers in the Kogi State are on strike, as some have not been paid at all for four months.

    Nigeria: Teachers fighting for security and minimum wage