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 9 June 2006

    Ghana: Teachers and Educational Workers Begin Indefinite Strike

    Salary arrears and the lack of progress in negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement have driven EI affiliate the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) to strike indefinitely. An ultimatum presented to President John Kufuor’s government says if demands are not met by next week, teachers in higher institutions will...

    Ghana: Teachers and Educational Workers Begin Indefinite Strike
  2. News 8 June 2006

    General Debate Statement by Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary of Education International at the International Labour Conference, Geneva

    EI has requested ILO to set international standards for the recruitment of teachers. In his address to the annual ILO Conference in Geneva, EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen said that industrialized countries should not try to remedy teacher shortages by poaching teachers from low-income countries. Van Leeuwen recommended that...

    General Debate Statement by Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary of Education International at the International Labour Conference, Geneva
  3. News 7 June 2006

    Romania: Teachers ask president to mediate conflict

    Romanian EI affiliate Fédération des Syndicats de l’Enseignement SPIRU-HARET have demanded President Traian Basescu to once again intervene in their relations with the government, as the agreement reached with the government after their last protest has not been respected.

    Romania: Teachers ask president to mediate conflict
  4. News 6 June 2006

    Ethiopia: EI mission relaunches social dialogue

    An international trade union mission composed of two representatives from EI and the African director of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) managed to open doors in Ethiopia. Meetings could soon be secured with the Ethiopian Ministers of Education and Information, together with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and embassy...

    Ethiopia: EI mission relaunches social dialogue
  5. News 31 May 2006

    Macedonia: Positive Outcome for Teachers and SONK

    After EI's letter to the Macedonian government dated 16 May to condemn its breach of a wage agreement with the teachers, the latter finally approved an agreement on 26 May to respect the wage deal signed with the teachers' union SONK, an EI affiliate.

    Macedonia: Positive Outcome for Teachers and SONK
  6. News 31 May 2006

    Ethiopia: Teacher detained - EI writes to Minister of Education

    Education International has written to Dr Sintayehu Michael, the Ethiopian Minister of Education, drawing his attention to the case of Mulunesh Abebayehu Teklewold, a female teacher who has been held without trial since November 2005.

    Ethiopia: Teacher detained - EI writes to Minister of Education
  7. News 31 May 2006

    Australia: Education International supports affiliate the NTEU

    Education International has written to the ILO in support of Australian affiliate the NTEU. The action was prompted by the Australian Government’s Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs), legislation which constitutes a breach of ILO Conventions ratified by Australia.

    Australia: Education International supports affiliate the NTEU
  8. News 30 May 2006

    EI at the 95th International Labour Conference

    This year, Education International will once again be present at the 95th International Labour Conference (ILC) which will open on 31 May in Geneva. The Conference is the annual tripartite meeting of the International Labour Organisation's 178 member states.

    EI at the 95th International Labour Conference
  9. News 29 May 2006

    UK: Lecturers prepared for prolonged pay battle with universities

    Leaders of Britain's largest lecturers' union, EI affiliate the NATFHE, have voted unanimously to escalate their national pay dispute with universities, with a call to hold out for their demands "to Christmas and beyond".

    UK: Lecturers prepared for prolonged pay battle with universities
  10. News 16 May 2006

    Ethiopia: International mission from 18-23 May

    From May 18-23, an international mission composed of officials from Education International (EI), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) will be in Ethiopia to meet with Ethiopian government officials, embassy officials, and detained ETA officials.

    Ethiopia: International mission from 18-23 May
  11. News 16 May 2006

    Macedonia: EI condemns breach of agreement

    EI sent a letter to the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia to condemn the government's breach of a wage agreement with teachers.

    Macedonia: EI condemns breach of agreement
  12. News 12 May 2006

    Côte d’Ivoire: EI protests to the President

    Further to the news item dated 10 May, EI issues a letter to the President of Côte d’Ivoire, demading him to open an impartial inquiry into the pillage of SYNESCI headoffice and guarantee the social dialogue with teacher union representatives and the legal undertaking of trade union activities.

    Côte d’Ivoire: EI protests to the President
  13. News 10 May 2006

    Ethiopia: EI relaunches Urgent Action Appeal

    EI has relaunched its Urgent Action Appeal for Ethiopia, to bring to the attention of member and partner organisations worldwide the urgent situation its affiliate, the "Ethiopian Teacher Association" (ETA) is now in. The Ethiopian government has repeatedly harassed and threatened the ETA, by dispossessing it of its properties, imprisonning...

    Ethiopia: EI relaunches Urgent Action Appeal
  14. News 10 May 2006

    Côte d'Ivoire: SYNESCI headoffice occupied and devastated

    EI contacted the President of Côte d'Ivoire to deplore the occupation and devastation of the headoffice of affiliate, the "Syndicat national des enseignants du second degré de Côte d’Ivoire" (SYNESCI) since 4 May. An EI mission conducted at the end of April was not able to confirm the physical security...

    Côte d'Ivoire: SYNESCI headoffice occupied and devastated
  15. News 9 May 2006

    Macedonia: The Government is cheating teachers

    EI has been informed that the Government of Macedonia is not intending to honour the wage deal it reached with the teachers' union SONK in February 2006 to be implemented tomorrow, May 10.

    Macedonia: The Government is cheating teachers