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 November 2012

    Arab Union Leaders condemn human and trade union rights abuses

    Leaders of teachers’ organisations in the Arab region are outraged by the recent verdict of a Bahraini appeal court in which it sentenced the President of the Bahraini Teachers Association (BTA), Mahdi Abu Deeb, to 5 years imprisonment for taking part in national demonstrations in 2011. The Vice President of...

    Arab Union Leaders condemn human and trade union rights abuses
  2. News 7 November 2012

    Canada: Students across Quebec learn lessons in online privacy

    On 5 November, schools across Quebec joined an event hosted by Laurier Macdonald High School in Montreal, to launch Media Literacy Week 2012. Students had the opportunity to talk with a panel of experts about online privacy as part of this year’s theme Privacy Matters.

    Canada: Students across Quebec learn lessons in online privacy
  3. News 30 October 2012

    Jordan: Refugees need teachers and textbooks

    "We must make every possible effort to provide support to the Syrian children and teachers in the refugee camps in Jordan," said EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen and ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, who visited the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Mafraq on 28 October. They met with refugees and...

    Jordan: Refugees need teachers and textbooks
  4. News 16 October 2012

    EI Executive Board condemns the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai

    At its meeting in Brussels from 16-18 October, the Executive Board of Education International, which represents 30 million teachers and other educators worldwide, condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the shooting by the Taliban of the fourteen year old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, because of her efforts to promote girls...

    EI Executive Board condemns the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai
  5. News 15 October 2012

    EI strongly condemns attack on school girls

    Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year old school girl and a campaigner for girls’ right to education was attacked on October 9 on her way home from school in Mingora, north-western Pakistan. Two gun men boarded a bus full of school girls, asked for Malala by name, shot her in the head...

    EI strongly condemns attack on school girls
  6. News 5 October 2012

    Honouring the courage of persecuted teacher unionists in Colombia

    World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to appreciate the tireless dedication and contribution of teachers to quality education. Unfortunately, in Colombia, teachers live in constant fear of being killed or maimed.

    Honouring the courage of persecuted teacher unionists in Colombia
  7. News 4 October 2012

    Turkey: International trade unions support Turkish workers’ rights

    Representatives of the European trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), Education International’s European region, are part of an international trade union delegation, together with representatives of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EFPSU), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), present in Ankara...

    Turkey: International trade unions support Turkish workers’ rights
  8. News 2 October 2012

    Bahrain: Solidarity with teachers on WTD

    At the occasion of World Teachers’ Day (WTD), celebrated annually on 5 October, EI has issued a statement of solidarity with teachers in Bahrain and their trade union, the Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA).

    Bahrain: Solidarity with teachers on WTD
  9. News 21 September 2012

    Kenya: Government must meet educators’ legitimate demands for decent wages

    EI has sent a protest letter to the Kenyan Head of Public Service, Francis Kimemia, urging the Government to enter into meaningful negotiations with EI national affiliates on teacher wages and allowances.

    Kenya: Government must meet educators’ legitimate demands for decent wages
  10. News 20 September 2012

    International Day of Peace highlights education for peace

    EI will celebrate the International Day of Peace on 21 September. On this occasion, it will reaffirm that human rights are at the heart of the peace.

    International Day of Peace highlights education for peace
  11. News 7 September 2012

    Bahrain: Grave concerns about teacher unionists in detention

    In view of the final appeals hearing in the cases of Bahraini teacher unionists Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman, there is growing concern that harsh earlier sentences, will be upheld by the appeals court - as in another ruling against Bahraini activists earlier this week.

    Bahrain: Grave concerns about teacher unionists in detention
  12. News 3 September 2012

    Germany: Long journeys to school undermine education

    Long journeys to school caused by the closing of local schools have a negative impact on students’ health and on their education achievement levels. That’s one of the conclusions of the latest study on absenteeism undertaken by the scientific Institute of the German health care insurance company AOK, highlighted by...

    Germany: Long journeys to school undermine education
  13. News 31 August 2012

    U.S.A.: Education unionists celebrate Labour Day

    The American Federation of teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), EI’s national affiliates, honour all workers countrywide on Monday 3 September, U.S. Labour Day.

    U.S.A.: Education unionists celebrate Labour Day
  14. News 29 August 2012

    Tanzania: Strike cancelled amid calls for negotiation

    The Tanzania Teachers’ Union (TTU) has called off its strike over teachers’ pay, after a High Court ruling found the countrywide action unlawful. The TTU made its decision in order to encourage bilateral discussions with the government to settle its case.

    Tanzania: Strike cancelled amid calls for negotiation