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 18 October 2018

    Education unionists add their voice in defence of freedom of expression

    Education International has joined the International Federation of Journalists and supported the calls made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urging the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Turkey to investigate the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

    Education unionists add their voice in defence of freedom of expression
  2. News 17 October 2018

    Iran: Solidarity with trade union leaders arrested after teachers’ strike

    Education International is deeply concerned by local reports indicating that Iranian public authorities responded to a nationwide strike of teachers and education support personnel in primary and secondary schools by expelling teachers from schools and arresting education union leaders.

    Iran: Solidarity with trade union leaders arrested after teachers’ strike
  3. News 9 October 2018

    25 Lessons on Education and Democracy

    On the occasion of World Teachers Day, October 5th, Education International presented ‘25 Lessons on Education and Democracy’. The 25 lessons learned are linked to the 25 years of the existence of Education International.

    25 Lessons on Education and Democracy
  4. News 1 October 2018

    Stop the US “zero tolerance” immigration policy harmful to children and their families!

    Education International has endorsed the complaint lodged by United States (US) trade unions concerning the US “zero tolerance” immigration policy systematically and forcibly separating immigrant children from their parents, for the purposes of prosecuting parents for “illegal entry” in the country.

    Stop the US “zero tolerance” immigration policy harmful to children and their families!
  5. News 24 September 2018

    Francophone education unions, the driving force of democracy, the guardians of public education and union solidarity

    At the 16th Meeting of the Comité Syndical Francophone de l’Education et de la Formation (Francophone Trade Union Committee for Education and Training), the Education International General Secretary, David Edwards, called on all French-speaking affiliates to defend democracy, human rights and trade union rights, to fight privatisation, and to strive...

    Francophone education unions, the driving force of democracy, the guardians of public education and union solidarity
  6. News 12 September 2018

    Netherlands: Red is still the colour of primary education!

    The Dutch educators’ Code Red action demanding decent salaries and a normal workload, and urging the government to clearly and firmly address burn-out and a shortage of teachers in primary education has continued with a strike covering South Western regions of the country.

    Netherlands: Red is still the colour of primary education!
  7. News 7 September 2018

    UK: education unions express concerns about student and teacher’ wellbeing on the release of GSCE results

    The release of this year’s results of the GSCE, the certificate ending secondary education in the UK, have prompted teacher unions to criticise the latest governmental reforms in the education system, and express their concerns about student and educator health and wellbeing.

    UK: education unions express concerns about student and teacher’ wellbeing on the release of GSCE results
  8. News 6 September 2018

    Canada: insecure academic contracts are “major sources of stress”

    Most academic staff working on contract at Canadian universities and colleges aren’t employed on fixed-term contracts by choice, and job precarity is a major source of stress for academics, a survey of the Canadian Association of University Teachers shows.

    Canada: insecure academic contracts are “major sources of stress”
  9. News 29 August 2018

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!

    Education International (EI) launches a LabourStart campaign to request the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammed Habibi and the respect of trade union rights in Iran.

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!
  10. Take action! 29 August 2018

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!

    Education International (EI) launches a LabourStart campaign to request the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammed Habibi and the respect of trade union rights in Iran.

    Free teacher unionist Mohammed Habibi!