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 3 September 2009

    EI launches Urgent Action Appeal for the Fijian Teachers' Association

    EI has launched an urgent appeal for action to its member and partner organisations on 3 September to engage their help in appealing against the dismissal of the president of the Fijian Teachers' Association (FTA) Tevita Koroi.

    EI launches Urgent Action Appeal for the Fijian Teachers' Association
  2. 1 September 2009

    Worldwide solidarity with Iranian workers

    As thousands of Iranian citizens took to the streets of Tehran and other cities to demand fairness in their national election process, workers around the world expressed their support for social justice in Iran. On 26 June, EI and its affiliates joined trade unionists and activists in many countries to...

    Worldwide solidarity with Iranian workers
  3. 1 September 2009

    Teaching abolition

    “Open a school, and you will close a prison.” – Victor Hugo

    Teaching abolition
  4. News 12 August 2009

    Zimbabwe: teachers’ salary still below poverty line

    Zimbabwean teacher unions ZIMTA and PTUZ have called the recent salary increase that places teacher salaries at US$155 a month ‘inadequate’ and urged the government to provide a living wage for teachers.

    Zimbabwe: teachers’ salary still below poverty line
  5. News 12 August 2009

    Teacher unions strive to safeguard education amidst the continuing crisis

    Honduran teacher unions have opted to join a general strike in the face of escalating violence in the country. Following the recent killings of two teachers, teacher unions have abandoned their previous compromise plan of teaching three days a week and supporting the national resistance to the unelected regime two...

    Teacher unions strive to safeguard education amidst the continuing crisis
  6. News 12 August 2009

    EFAIDS Programme in West Africa

    Unions across West Africa have had a busy first half of 2009 working on the EFAIDS Programme, and have been particularly active in the area of training and publications.

    EFAIDS Programme in West Africa
  7. News 12 August 2009

    Teach ‘One Hour on AIDS’ on World AIDS Day

    World AIDS Day may be several months away but teacher unions are eager to start preparing their activities. For many students school is a valuable, and sometimes the only source, of accurate information on HIV and AIDS.

    Teach ‘One Hour on AIDS’ on World AIDS Day
  8. News 12 August 2009

    The real cost of cuts in HIV and AIDS spending

    People living with HIV are feeling the effects of the global economic crisis as governments around the world cut spending on treatment. According to Miguel D’EScoto President of the UN General Assembly, “many governments are resigned to reducing programmes and diminished expectations”.

    The real cost of cuts in HIV and AIDS spending
  9. News 4 August 2009

    Turkish unionists remain in jail

    Trade unions worldwide continue to protest at the continued harassment, random judicial proceedings and detention of members and leaders of the teacher union Egitim Sen and Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK).

    Turkish unionists remain in jail
  10. News 4 August 2009

    Teachers killed in violent repression in Honduras

    Escalating violence in Honduras against those protesting the military coup of 28 June has left two teachers dead: Roger Abraham Vallejo and Martín Florencio Rivera.

    Teachers killed in violent repression in Honduras
  11. News 20 July 2009

    USA: Education reform must be good for kids and fair to teachers

    Teachers and their unions should "be the engines of real change in education," Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, told thousands of educators meeting in Washington, D.C. from 13-15 July.

    USA: Education reform must be good for kids and fair to teachers
  12. News 7 July 2009

    EI launches Urgent Action Appeal for Turkey

    In recent weeks, EI member organisation Egitim-Sen and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK) – to which EI’s member is affiliated – have suffered a series of attacks by the Turkish authorities, including the occupation and searches of the trade union premises by the security forces, arrest and preventive...

    EI launches Urgent Action Appeal for Turkey
  13. News 1 July 2009

    Uganda: EFAIDS Boosts Training of Teachers on HIV and AIDS

    The Uganda National Teachers’ Union with their EFAIDS partner the National Union of Educational Institutions held a highly successful four day ‘training of trainers’ workshop in Kampala in early June. The Master Trainers are now well equipped to carry out local level training on HIV and AIDS education for their...

    Uganda: EFAIDS Boosts Training of Teachers on HIV and AIDS
  14. News 1 July 2009

    Zambian union promotes leadership in the HIV Response

    The Zambia National Union of Teachers held a 3-day Trainer of Trainers Workshop in Livingstone in early June. Organised to introduce participants to the updated EFAIDS resource, ‘Leadership in the HIV Response’ the workshop brought together regional EFAIDS Coordinators from each of the nine regions of the country.

    Zambian union promotes leadership in the HIV Response