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 November 2014

    Mexico: 60 days and still no answers surrounding missing students

    Despite international pressure for a thorough investigation, and demonstrations that continue to sweep the country, the fate of the 43 students who disappeared two months ago in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, remains unclear.

    Mexico: 60 days and still no answers surrounding missing students
  2. News 26 November 2014

    USA: Teacher union objects to Coca-Cola in schools

    The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has banned Coca-Cola products from its facilities and events, citing Coca-Cola's child labour and human rights record.

    USA: Teacher union objects to Coca-Cola in schools
  3. News 21 November 2014

    South Korea: Four students take their lives under stress of exams

    The recent suicides of four South Korean high school students once again have many asking what can be done to address the issue of high-stakes university entry exams and the overwhelming pressure placed upon students.

    South Korea: Four students take their lives under stress of exams
  4. News 20 November 2014

    Universal children's day: a long way ahead

    Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - a defining moment in history, when for the first time, all children around the world were viewed as human beings with their own set of rights, including the right to a quality education.

    Universal children's day: a long way ahead
  5. News 19 November 2014

    Urgent appeal: take action against child slavery

    More than five million children in the world are forced to work as slaves, with working days reaching 18 hours per day. The right to education is just one of many human rights that they are deprived of.

    Urgent appeal: take action against child slavery
  6. News 14 November 2014

    Denmark and USA: Malthe Thomsen dismissed of all charges

    The nearly five-month investigation, reported on the EI website yesterday, into claims that a student teacher had inappropriately touched youngsters at a preschool in Manhattan has ended with the dismissal of all criminal charges, according to the New York times today.

    Denmark and USA: Malthe Thomsen dismissed of all charges
  7. News 13 November 2014

    Denmark and USA: Danish Union launches Legal Defence Fund to support trainee teacher

    The Danish pre-school teachers union, BUPL, is seeking financial support from other EI affiliates, to assist with payment of the huge legal costs of defending a member of the union who has been accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature ’ at a preschool in New York.

    Denmark and USA: Danish Union launches Legal Defence Fund to support trainee teacher
  8. News 12 November 2014

    Mexico: EI demands full investigation into disappearance of missing student teachers

    News reports indicated a few days ago that the 43 Mexican students who disappeared in southern Mexico in September were abducted by police on order of a local mayor, and are believed to have been turned over to a gang that killed them and burned their bodies before throwing some...

    Mexico: EI demands full investigation into disappearance of missing student teachers
  9. News 7 November 2014

    Belgium: Teacher unions join in national strike

    Teacher unionists were among over 100,000 demonstrators who took to the streets of Brussels, Belgium, on 6 November to fight budgetary reform measures planned by the Belgian federal Government that will affect workers severely.

    Belgium: Teacher unions join in national strike
  10. News 30 October 2014

    Kenyan teachers: no quality education without collective bargaining

    Teacher unions in Kenya are urging the Government to allow and support the ongoing negotiations on their basic salaries, and demand the approval of a new collective bargaining agreement.

    Kenyan teachers: no quality education without collective bargaining
  11. News 28 October 2014

    Hungary: State enters the Classroom

    The long arm of the Hungarian government has reached into the country’s classrooms, leaving many fearful that authorities are preparing to tighten their grip on the teaching profession and undermine the role of education unions.

    Hungary: State enters the Classroom
  12. News 17 October 2014

    Sierra Leone: Teachers learning to cope with Ebola

    The Ebola epidemic has brought education to a halt in Sierra Leone, shuttering classrooms across the country, leaving all teachers, children, and communities affected as the disease continues to claim lives.

    Sierra Leone: Teachers learning to cope with Ebola
  13. News 17 October 2014

    General strike in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) off the agenda for now

    A strike in FYROM's education sector announced by ETUCE's Macedonian member organisation SONK on 29 September 2014 was averted at the very last moment. Following ETUCE's written intervention at the Macedonian Ministry of Education and ETUCE's ad hoc meeting with SONK in Skopje, the Ministry had suddenly agreed to return...

    General strike in Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) off the agenda for now
  14. News 10 October 2014

    Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel Peace Prize

    Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi have been awarded the Nobel peace prize “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”.

    Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi win Nobel Peace Prize
  15. News 9 October 2014

    EI calls for release of kidnapped US hostage

    Education International joins its US affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, in calling for the safe release of American academic Warren Weinstein, who was abducted in Pakistan by al Qaeda.

    EI calls for release of kidnapped US hostage