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 19 December 2012

    Canada: Union condemns government’s assault on democracy

    The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), one of EI’s national affiliates, has heavily criticised the Harper Conservative government for pushing Bill C-377 through the House of Commons without a fair debate and without hearing the voices of those affected by the legislation. They describe the bill as mean-spirited, biased and wasteful...

    Canada: Union condemns government’s assault on democracy
  2. News 18 December 2012

    Women trade unionists call for justice for Jalila Khamis Koko

    Jalila Khamis Koko is a teacher from the Sudan, who has been charged on five criminal counts and faces the death penalty; she has been detained for more than nine months, with no charges brought against her until now.

    Women trade unionists call for justice for Jalila Khamis Koko
  3. News 17 December 2012

    US education community shares Newtown’s grief and loss

    EI affiliates in the US, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), have expressed their deep condolences to families, educators and the whole community of Newtown, Connecticut, after a shooting rampage at a school left 26 people dead, including 20 students, on Friday.

    US education community shares Newtown’s grief and loss
  4. News 15 December 2012

    USA: 26 Killed in School Shooting

    “There are no records of a massacre of this size hitting a school population outside a warzone since the massacre at Virginia Tech in 2007,” says the General Secretary of Education International, Fred van Leeuwen, commenting on the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, USA, yesterday, whereby twenty children and six...

    USA: 26 Killed in School Shooting
  5. News 14 December 2012

    Turkey: Three female trade unionists released

    EI welcomes the release of three female members of KESK, the Turkish public services’ trade union confederation. The three, released on 13 December by the Ankara Court, include Güldane Erdo?an from the teacher union E?itim Sen, who has been imprisoned for 10 months.

    Turkey: Three female trade unionists released
  6. News 10 December 2012

    New international project to promote human and workers’ rights

    On International Human Rights Day 2012, Education International (EI) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) launched a new international teachers’ union project in Egypt, Georgia, Honduras and Zimbabwe.

    New international project to promote human and workers’ rights
  7. News 7 December 2012

    Educators celebrate International Day for Human Rights

    As trade unions mark the International Day for Human Rights on 10 December, EI pays tribute to teachers and education workers around the world who fight for the right to live and work in dignity. These educators also fight for freedom of expression, assembly and association; the right to bargain...

    Educators celebrate International Day for Human Rights
  8. News 6 December 2012

    28 students and teachers killed in mortar attack on Syrian school

    According to media reports yesterday, at least 28 students and a teacher were killed when a mortar hit the Batiha school in al-Wafidin camp, a community of about 25,000 displaced people, about twenty kilometres northeast of the capital. The reports said Syria’s official Sana news agency accused Syrian rebel forces...

    28 students and teachers killed in mortar attack on Syrian school
  9. News 30 November 2012

    EI opposes planned government restrictions on the internet

    A draft treaty to be voted at the upcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) has severe implications for teachers, students, education support staff, union members and the rights of individuals around the world.

    EI opposes planned government restrictions on the internet
  10. News 27 November 2012

    Bahrain: Trade unionist released from prison

    EI welcomed the release from prison of Jalila Al-Salman, the acting President of the Bahraini Teachers’ Association (BTA), on 25 November.

    Bahrain: Trade unionist released from prison
  11. News 23 November 2012

    Turkey: Stop the judicial harassment against unionists

    On 13 December 2012, Turkey will see a new episode in the judicial harassment against trade unionists, as three women unionists, including Güldane Erdo?an from the teacher union Egitim Sen, will appear in front of the Court in Ankara. Those women were amongst of the 15 female union leaders who...

    Turkey: Stop the judicial harassment against unionists
  12. News 21 November 2012

    Bahrain: Free Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb!

    EI launched in November an Urgent Action Appeal for Bahrain. It demands that Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, Vice President and President of the Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA), be released from jail.

    Bahrain: Free Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb!
  13. News 19 November 2012

    ILO highlights serious labour right cases

    Argentina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji and Peru were singled out by the Committee on Freedom of Association of the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO). Committee members reviewed cases involving rights to organise, negotiation through collective bargaining and engagement in social dialogue, on 1-16 November in Geneva.

    ILO highlights serious labour right cases
  14. News 16 November 2012

    EI calls for cease-fire in Middle East

    Education International has expressed deep concern over the safety of school children and teachers in Gaza and Israel, as violence is escalating in the area. It has urged Hamas and Israel to call a permanent cease-fire, and to respect the principle of the right to education in safety.

    EI calls for cease-fire in Middle East
  15. News 16 November 2012

    Honduras: Union condemns intimidation of teachers

    The Federation of Teachers’ Organisations of Honduras (FOMH), of which there are five EI member organisations, has reported large-scale dismissals, salary cuts and temporary suspensions of teachers which have been justified by false allegations.

    Honduras: Union condemns intimidation of teachers
  16. News 9 November 2012

    Colombia:

    Miguel Angel Beltran
    Colombia: