Ei-iE

At this year’s International Labour Conference, Education International has reaffirmed the need for providing all workers, in particular, those in education, with respectful work places that ensure equality and non-discrimination, as well as social dialogue, in order to achieve quality education for all.

Education International brings the voice of teachers and education personnel to the 107th session of the International Labour Conference.

Education International has called for the release of Iranian teacher unionists Mohammad Habibi and Esmail Abdi, while global human rights organisation Amnesty International has also called for Abdi’s release as a prisoner of conscience.

70,000 people participated in a demonstration organised in defence of pensions. The government plans to change the pensions in a manner that might put them at risk.

During Global Francophonie Week, the Comité syndical francophone de l'éducation et de la formation recalled the need for democracy around the world, which necessarily requires “free quality public education funded mainly by States”.

The Universities’ Academic Staff Union, an Education International’s affiliate in Kenya, is involved in a labour dispute with the employers’ federation for public universities over the negotiation and implementation of a collective bargaining agreement.

While the country has faced a major strike in defense of public services, the French unions members of Education International recall their concerns for the status of government teachers, the quality of education and social dialogue.

Education International is sad to learn of the passing of Donald C. Savage, an inspiring educator and committed union leader. He was 85.

Despite conflict in the Central African Republic, teachers are fighting to ensure that the education system functions and that trade union rights are respected.

Substantial progress was made by the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union in discussions with public authorities to guarantee proper functioning of the Iraqi education system and provide decent living conditions for teachers.

The National Coordination of Education Unions in Burkina Faso has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government, a landmark agreement covering access to education and improved working conditions.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers and other labour unions in Kaduna State have gone on strike after thousands of teachers had their employment terminated by the state’s government, despite a court order preventing such an action.

Asia-Pacific education union leaders reiterated their commitment to quality education for all, working towards countering for-profit education privatisation, increasing  teacher professionalism and demanding respect for educators’ human and trade union rights.

For the past 10 years theColegio de Profesores de Chile(CPC) has been carrying out a project they call the Pedagogical Movement, a unique kind of teacher union research project.

It is a victory in the history of teacher trade unionism in Africa that the President of the Tanzania Teachers' Union (TTU), Margaret Sitta, has recently been appointed the country's Minister of Education and Vocational Training.

"It is with deep sadness that I learned about the death of Aberrahmane, a longstanding comrade and friend," said EI's Deputy General Secretary Elie Jouen.