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 27 February 2020

    Philippines: Renewed attacks on teachers and their union

    Despite international solidarity, human and trade union rights abuses continue in the Philippines. The red-tagging and vilification campaign targeting members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers is escalating.

    Philippines: Renewed attacks on teachers and their union
  2. News 25 February 2020

    Ukraine: unions step up action against labour reform

    Trade unions in Ukraine are opposing a reform of the labour law that puts such basic workers’ rights as freedom of association and collective bargaining at grave risk. The dangerous provisions apply to workers and their trade unions in both public and private sectors.

    Ukraine: unions step up action against labour reform
  3. News 20 February 2020

    Haiti: Generalised violence throws education system into chaos

    As Haiti grapples with lawlessness and widespread violence, education unions warn of the terrible impact of the crisis on the country’s education system, with students, teachers and education workers in fear for their lives and schools closing down.

    Haiti: Generalised violence throws education system into chaos
  4. News 20 February 2020

    Colombia: National Strike in Defence of Peace

    The Colombian teachers' union FECODE has called for a national strike on 20 and 21 February in demand of “life, peace and democracy”.

    Colombia: National Strike in Defence of Peace
  5. News 11 February 2020

    Canada: Educators strike against cuts in education and for collective bargaining

    Rotating strikes by teachers and education workers are set to continue this week in Canada’s Ontario province. The strike started on 6 February, with negotiations between educators and the province’s government over funding and collective bargaining stalled.

    Canada: Educators strike against cuts in education and for collective bargaining
  6. News 10 February 2020

    Kenya: Deadly stampede in school highlights dangers of overcrowding and poor infrastructure

    On 3 February, a stampede in the Kakamega Primary School in Kenya's western region left 14 students dead and 40 severely injured. Kenyan education unions have reacted angrily to the factors that led to the tragedy. The unions condemned the lack of implementation of existing safety standards, and addressed the...

    Kenya: Deadly stampede in school highlights dangers of overcrowding and poor infrastructure
  7. News 7 February 2020

    Cameroon: Unions denounce ongoing violence in schools

    Teachers’ representative organisations in Cameroon are united in demanding security in schools in a country “badly shaken by an unprecedented and wave of intolerable violence” at the beginning of the year.

    Cameroon: Unions denounce ongoing violence in schools
  8. News 6 February 2020

    Arab educators tackle diverse challenges to education and teachers in their region

    At a recent meeting, the Committee of the Education International’s Arab Countries Cross Regional Structure reaffirmed their commitment to fight education privatisation and defend democracy in the region. Committee members reported on the challenges faced in their national settings, discussed recent union activities, and strategised for future action and campaigns.

    Arab educators tackle diverse challenges to education and teachers in their region
  9. News 4 February 2020

    Ireland: Teachers strike for equal pay

    A strike in secondary schools in Ireland has seen hundreds of establishments closed as teachers all over the country demand an end to pay discrimination.

    Ireland: Teachers strike for equal pay
  10. News 3 February 2020

    Argentina: Trade Unions Welcome Revival of Social Dialogue

    Following a year of trade union struggle, the government has issued a decree reinstating the National Joint Negotiation Committee for Teachers (Paritaria Nacional Docente).

    Argentina: Trade Unions Welcome Revival of Social Dialogue
  11. News 30 January 2020

    The Netherlands: Strike action demands government funding of education and teachers

    Education International strongly supports the Netherlands’ education staff who are set to strike again – they are seeking appropriate and sustainable funding in the public education sector. Most Dutch schools will be closed from 30-31 January.

    The Netherlands: Strike action demands government funding of education and teachers
  12. Worlds of Education 28 January 2020

    "A teacher like me” – meeting with German teachers, crossing emotional bridges, sharing positive professional experiences on Holocaust education, by Talia Kranz.

    Talia Kranz

    What is more timely for us, Israeli teachers, than talking with our German colleagues about the fight against racism and anti-Semitism? It's already been happening for the 29th time! For the past 50 years, a bi-national seminar has been held once every two years attended by Israeli and German educators...

    "A teacher like me” – meeting with German teachers, crossing emotional bridges, sharing positive professional experiences on Holocaust education, by Talia Kranz.
  13. Worlds of Education 28 January 2020

    “Susi”- a graphic novel about a Jewish girl in disguise - and how to work with the book in primary schools, by Silvia Stieneker (GEW, Germany).

    Silvia Stieneker

    I am a primary school teacher in Berlin. In the summer of 2019, I participated in a German-Israeli union seminar for teachers in Tel Aviv that was organized by the German union “Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW)” and the Israeli teachers union “Histadrut ha Morim”. In this seminar, we discussed...

    “Susi”- a graphic novel about a Jewish girl in disguise - and how to work with the book in primary schools, by Silvia Stieneker (GEW, Germany).