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 11 September 2013

    US: Human rights comes centre stage for students

    One of EI’s affiliate in the US, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), has developed a useful toolkit designed to help the teaching of human rights in the classroom.

    US: Human rights comes centre stage for students
  2. News 5 September 2013

    UK: Strikes planned in ongoing campaign to protect teachers

    Plans are in place for a national teachers’ strike in England before Christmas in a row over adverse changes to teachers’ pay, pensions, working conditions and jobs. This is the next phase of a campaign to protect teachers and defend education, jointly coordinated by the two biggest UK teachers' unions...

    UK: Strikes planned in ongoing campaign to protect teachers
  3. News 4 September 2013

    Protest against detention of Canadian academics in Egypt

    EI is urging its member organisations to press the Egyptian authorities to immediately release two Canadian professors who have been detained without charges by the Egyptian police since 17 August.

    Protest against detention of Canadian academics in Egypt
  4. News 27 August 2013

    Germany: Berlin’s teacher unionists on strike

    Berlin’s educators have gone on strike over better working conditions and an improved salary scale, according to the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW), one of EI’s national affiliates.

    Germany: Berlin’s teacher unionists on strike
  5. News 27 August 2013

    EI marks anniversary of March to Washington

    28 August marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was during this March that American activist Martin Luther King delivered his iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, calling for an end to racism in the US.

    EI marks anniversary of March to Washington
  6. News 22 August 2013

    South Africa: unions bring Department of Basic Education to court

    EI’s national affiliates, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the South Africa National Professional Teachers’ Organisation (NAPTOSA), and the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie(SAOU), joined by the Professional Educators Union and the National Teachers’ Union, have taken the fight to reinstate a collective agreement to court. The agreement, signed between teacher unions...

    South Africa: unions bring Department of Basic Education to court
  7. News 22 August 2013

    Teacher unions in the Pacific learn more about their rights

    EI organised a workshop enabling representatives of 16 member organisations in the Pacific to campaign for the promotion of trade union rights in the region. The workshop was hosted in Fiji on 19-22 August with the support of the Workers Group of the International Labour Organisation (ILO-ACTRAV).

    Teacher unions in the Pacific learn more about their rights
  8. News 19 August 2013

    Fiji: Exposing the clampdown on union rights

    An EI delegation is attending regional meetings on labour standards in Fiji. EI representatives are holding talks with teachers' representatives from the Fijian Teachers' Association and the Fiji Teacher Union who deplored the clampdown on union rights since the 2006 coup.

    Fiji: Exposing the clampdown on union rights
  9. News 12 August 2013

    UK: Education Secretary must listen to teachers, not attack them

    Two of EI’s affiliates, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), have criticised a survey released by the UK polling organisation, Populus.

    UK: Education Secretary must listen to teachers, not attack them
  10. News 6 August 2013

    Kenya: Government withholds salaries after teachers’ strike ends

    The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), one of EI’s affiliates in the country, has informed EI that the teachers’ national strike which started on 25 June was called off on 17 July. The education union urged teachers to report back to their schools the next day. Unfortunately, however, the...

    Kenya: Government withholds salaries after teachers’ strike ends
  11. News 5 August 2013

    Iranian teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari saved from execution

    EI is relieved to learn that the death sentence imposed on Iranian teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari has been reduced to 15 years’ detention and exile by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.

    Iranian teacher Abdolreza Ghanbari saved from execution
  12. News 2 August 2013

    Tunis: Condemnation of murder of MP and comrade Mohamed Brahmi

    Education International strongly condemns the killing of Mohamed Brahmi, a secular Tunisian political leader. An outspoken critic of the Government who represented the Front Populaire in the Tunisian Parliament, Mohamed Brahmi was shot down in front of his home in Tunis on 25 July.

    Tunis: Condemnation of murder of MP and comrade Mohamed Brahmi
  13. News 29 July 2013

    Burkina Faso: Respect for fundamental principles and rights at work

    EI organised national training and awareness workshops on the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burkina Faso.

    Burkina Faso: Respect for fundamental principles and rights at work
  14. News 26 July 2013

    Zimbabwe: Schools should be spared political activity

    One of EI’s national affiliates, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), and children’s rights activists have criticised the use of schools as political campaign venues, pointing out that it contravenes the national Constitution.

    Zimbabwe: Schools should be spared political activity
  15. News 24 July 2013

    Malaysia: EI workshop builds leadership skills

    Leadership skills and union finances were the focus of a three-day workshoporganised by EI for 15 members of one of its Malaysian affiliates, the Sabah Teachers Union (STU-Sabah). It was held from 7-9 July in Kota Kinabalu.

    Malaysia: EI workshop builds leadership skills
  16. News 18 July 2013

    Mandela Day: small actions can change your world

    On 18 July, EI marks International Nelson Mandela Day. The day honours Mandela’s life-long dedication to social justice, and urges people to take small actions to improve their communities and change the world. This year's Nelson Mandela International Day will focus on shelter, literacy and food security.

    Mandela Day: small actions can change your world
  17. News 9 July 2013

    Nigeria: EI condemns shocking school massacre

    EI has condemned the killing of 29 students and a teacher and the burning down of the Mamudo boarding school in Nigeria's north-eastern state of Yobe by suspected Islamist extremists.

    Nigeria: EI condemns shocking school massacre