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 9 February 2012

    Greece: Austerity measures put trade union rights at considerable risk

    EI and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have condemned the latest developments in the negotiation between the national government and the Troika (European Commission, European Central Bank [ECB], and International Monetary Fund [IMF]) that would smash minimum wages, collective agreements and rights in Greece.

    Greece: Austerity measures put trade union rights at considerable risk
  2. News 2 February 2012

    Bahrain: Help free trade union leader Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb!

    EI has launched a campaign to urge the Bahraini authorities to immediately release on bail Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, President of the Bahraini Teachers Association (BTA), given his deteriorating health condition. This campaign is organised in partnership with LabourStart, an online news service aiming to serve the international trade...

    Bahrain: Help free trade union leader Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb!
  3. News 12 January 2012

    Kenya: teachers under threat over exam results

    The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), one of EI’s national affiliates, has condemned the surge of violence against teachers following the release of the results for the national Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations (KCPE).

    Kenya: teachers under threat over exam results
  4. News 11 January 2012

    Iran must stop execution of Amir Hekmati

    Amir Hekmati (28), an Arizona born Iranian-American, accused of spying for the CIA, was sentenced to death earlier this week after an unfair trial without access to consular assistance.

    Iran must stop execution of Amir Hekmati
  5. News 20 December 2011

    Lebanon: teacher unions strike over insulting wage rise

    Tens of thousands of teachers including EI’s affiliates the Syndicate of Private School Teachers (TSL) and the League of Public Secondary Teachers (LPESPL), went on strike across Lebanon on December 15. They are threatening to widen the action if the government fails to improve its planned wage increase.

    Lebanon: teacher unions strike over insulting wage rise
  6. News 20 December 2011

    EI strengthens international trade unionism and its internal structures

    At its 39th meeting held on 30 November-1 December, EI Executive Board adopted new policies related to the crisis and its impact on unions worldwide. These policies are partly represented by resolutions on ‘the Strengthening of International Trade Unionism within the Context of Globalisation,’ and ‘EI Structures.’

    EI strengthens international trade unionism and its internal structures
  7. News 16 December 2011

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the prison sentences against teacher unionists

    EI has launched a petition in association with LabourStart to condemn the prison sentences imposed on 25 Turkish trade unionists, members of both EI affiliate Egitim Sen and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK).

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the prison sentences against teacher unionists
  8. News 14 December 2011

    Bahrain: Appeal of teacher union leaders postponed

    The appeal of Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA) leaders, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, has been postponed to 19 February, in order to be able to include the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report. This postponement will effectively prolong the detention of Mahdi Abu Dheeb, the...

    Bahrain: Appeal of teacher union leaders postponed
  9. News 14 December 2011

    Fiji: Government refuses entry to international trade union delegation

    Fiji’s military regime has refused to allow an Australian and New Zealand trade union delegation to enter the country on 13 December. Representatives of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) were denied permission to enter the country on arrival at...

    Fiji: Government refuses entry to international trade union delegation
  10. News 9 December 2011

    Bahrain: EI launches a new Urgent Action Appeal

    Education International (EI) has launched a new Urgent Action Appeal on Bahrain, calling on its member organisations to contact their national government as well as the Bahraini diplomatic representations in their country to urge the Bahraini authorities to review the charges and convictions and commute sentences of all teachers, teacher...

    Bahrain: EI launches a new Urgent Action Appeal
  11. News 1 December 2011

    EI Executive Board condemns unjust prison sentence on trade union activists in Turkey

    The EI Executive Board, meeting in Brussels this week, learned with great regret that 25 Turkish trade unionists, members of EGITIM Sen-KESK, which includes the EI affiliate in Turkey, had prison sentences imposed by the Turkish courts for engaging in what would be regarded elsewhere as legitimate trade union activities.

    EI Executive Board condemns unjust prison sentence on trade union activists in Turkey
  12. News 25 November 2011

    On December 1, in your school or your union, talk about HIV and AIDS!

    Each year on December 1, millions of people throughout the world commemorate World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is about raising awareness of HIV and AIDS and is a great opportunity to take action on HIV and AIDS education in schools.

    On December 1, in your school or your union, talk about HIV and AIDS!
  13. News 23 November 2011

    Bahrain: The international teacher trade union movement shows solidarity

    EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, recently visited the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to get first-hand impressions of the situation in a country that has seen severe mistreatment of teachers in the past months, following “Arab Spring”-inspired upheavals throughout the middle eastern state.

    Bahrain: The international teacher trade union movement shows solidarity
  14. News 23 November 2011

    Together combating teachers’ stress

    The EI European Region, ETUCE, wrapped-up a research project on teachers’ work-related stress and presented the results from a European-wide survey on this issue during a Conference held in Berlin on 18-19 November.

    Together combating teachers’ stress
  15. News 10 November 2011

    USA: Ohioan voters reject anti-worker law and agenda

    EI’s U.S. affiliates, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), have celebrated the historical vote overwhelmingly repealing Senate Bill 5, a controversial bill signed into law by Governor John Kasich. This legislation was designed to silence the public workers’ voices and strip away their collective...

    USA: Ohioan voters reject anti-worker law and agenda
  16. News 8 November 2011

    Estonia: massive support for educators’ demand for salary raise

    The Estonian Educational Personal Union (EEPU), one of EI’s national affiliates, has joined a successful demonstration supporting educators’ justified salary demands, held on 25 October in the capital city, Tallinn, in front of the Riigikogu (the Estonian Parliament).

    Estonia: massive support for educators’ demand for salary raise
  17. News 2 November 2011

    Uganda: Teachers warn government about mass action

    The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), one of EI’s national affiliates, has warned the Government the next phase of their strike will include parents and supporters, should national authorities continue harassing teacher unionists through its security agents.

    Uganda: Teachers warn government about mass action