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 8 February 2013

    EI condemns murder of Tunisian political leader

    EI strongly condemns the killing of Chokri Belaïd, a secular Tunisian political leader. In December 2012, the headquarters of the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) union federation were attacked, and there were a series of violent repressions of demonstrations in Tunis and across the country.

    EI condemns murder of Tunisian political leader
  2. News 5 February 2013

    Mauritania: pupils against overcrowded classes

    On 28 January, pupils at a secondary school in Aere Mbar, a small village in southern Mauritania, ransacked the school, slightly injuring one of their teachers. They broke and burnt doors, tables and windows. This furious outburst was triggered by severe overcrowding in one of their classes: 105 pupils.

    Mauritania: pupils against overcrowded classes
  3. News 4 February 2013

    EI cherishes centenary of human rights activist

    In December 1955, in Montgomery, USA, a black seamstress refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger, even though this was required by regulations. Her name was Rosa Parks, and she has been called ‘the mother of the freedom movement’. February 4 is the 100th...

    EI cherishes centenary of human rights activist
  4. News 24 January 2013

    Germany: Teachers in most stressful profession

    The Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) and Verband Bildung und Erziehung(VBE), two of EI’s national affiliates in Germany, have reacted strongly to research showing that teachers, as well as construction workers, are more stressed than other professionals. The study, conducted by the German trade union confederation, DGB, was released on...

    Germany: Teachers in most stressful profession
  5. News 16 January 2013

    USA: Call for strong response to ongoing school shootings

    After another school shooting in Taft, California, EI’s national affiliates, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), have expressed their deep shock and reiterated the urgent need to prevent future tragedies.

    USA: Call for strong response to ongoing school shootings
  6. News 15 January 2013

    Costa Rica: ANDE on the road to trade union status

    The Asociación Nacional de Educadores (ANDE), an EI affiliate, has received authorisation to change its legal status from “association” to “trade union” by a bill approved by the Costa Rica Parliament. This initiative will coincide with the organisation’s 70th anniversary.

    Costa Rica: ANDE on the road to trade union status
  7. 21 December 2012

    Dave Lindorff: Heroes or Greedy Moochers at the Public Trough?

    I’ll be brief here. Let’s just note that the heroic teachers who died while courageously trying to protect their kids at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, and the others who survived but stayed to protect the kids, were all part of a school system where the employees...

    Dave Lindorff: Heroes or Greedy Moochers at the Public Trough?
  8. News 19 December 2012

    Canada: Union condemns government’s assault on democracy

    The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), one of EI’s national affiliates, has heavily criticised the Harper Conservative government for pushing Bill C-377 through the House of Commons without a fair debate and without hearing the voices of those affected by the legislation. They describe the bill as mean-spirited, biased and wasteful...

    Canada: Union condemns government’s assault on democracy
  9. News 18 December 2012

    Women trade unionists call for justice for Jalila Khamis Koko

    Jalila Khamis Koko is a teacher from the Sudan, who has been charged on five criminal counts and faces the death penalty; she has been detained for more than nine months, with no charges brought against her until now.

    Women trade unionists call for justice for Jalila Khamis Koko
  10. News 17 December 2012

    US education community shares Newtown’s grief and loss

    EI affiliates in the US, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), have expressed their deep condolences to families, educators and the whole community of Newtown, Connecticut, after a shooting rampage at a school left 26 people dead, including 20 students, on Friday.

    US education community shares Newtown’s grief and loss
  11. News 15 December 2012

    USA: 26 Killed in School Shooting

    “There are no records of a massacre of this size hitting a school population outside a warzone since the massacre at Virginia Tech in 2007,” says the General Secretary of Education International, Fred van Leeuwen, commenting on the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, USA, yesterday, whereby twenty children and six...

    USA: 26 Killed in School Shooting
  12. News 14 December 2012

    Turkey: Three female trade unionists released

    EI welcomes the release of three female members of KESK, the Turkish public services’ trade union confederation. The three, released on 13 December by the Ankara Court, include Güldane Erdo?an from the teacher union E?itim Sen, who has been imprisoned for 10 months.

    Turkey: Three female trade unionists released
  13. News 10 December 2012

    New international project to promote human and workers’ rights

    On International Human Rights Day 2012, Education International (EI) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) launched a new international teachers’ union project in Egypt, Georgia, Honduras and Zimbabwe.

    New international project to promote human and workers’ rights
  14. News 7 December 2012

    Educators celebrate International Day for Human Rights

    As trade unions mark the International Day for Human Rights on 10 December, EI pays tribute to teachers and education workers around the world who fight for the right to live and work in dignity. These educators also fight for freedom of expression, assembly and association; the right to bargain...

    Educators celebrate International Day for Human Rights
  15. News 6 December 2012

    28 students and teachers killed in mortar attack on Syrian school

    According to media reports yesterday, at least 28 students and a teacher were killed when a mortar hit the Batiha school in al-Wafidin camp, a community of about 25,000 displaced people, about twenty kilometres northeast of the capital. The reports said Syria’s official Sana news agency accused Syrian rebel forces...

    28 students and teachers killed in mortar attack on Syrian school
  16. News 30 November 2012

    EI opposes planned government restrictions on the internet

    A draft treaty to be voted at the upcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) has severe implications for teachers, students, education support staff, union members and the rights of individuals around the world.

    EI opposes planned government restrictions on the internet