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 20 December 2011

    Lebanon: teacher unions strike over insulting wage rise

    Tens of thousands of teachers including EI’s affiliates the Syndicate of Private School Teachers (TSL) and the League of Public Secondary Teachers (LPESPL), went on strike across Lebanon on December 15. They are threatening to widen the action if the government fails to improve its planned wage increase.

    Lebanon: teacher unions strike over insulting wage rise
  2. News 20 December 2011

    EI strengthens international trade unionism and its internal structures

    At its 39th meeting held on 30 November-1 December, EI Executive Board adopted new policies related to the crisis and its impact on unions worldwide. These policies are partly represented by resolutions on ‘the Strengthening of International Trade Unionism within the Context of Globalisation,’ and ‘EI Structures.’

    EI strengthens international trade unionism and its internal structures
  3. News 16 December 2011

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the prison sentences against teacher unionists

    EI has launched a petition in association with LabourStart to condemn the prison sentences imposed on 25 Turkish trade unionists, members of both EI affiliate Egitim Sen and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK).

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the prison sentences against teacher unionists
  4. News 14 December 2011

    Bahrain: Appeal of teacher union leaders postponed

    The appeal of Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA) leaders, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, has been postponed to 19 February, in order to be able to include the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report. This postponement will effectively prolong the detention of Mahdi Abu Dheeb, the...

    Bahrain: Appeal of teacher union leaders postponed
  5. News 14 December 2011

    Fiji: Government refuses entry to international trade union delegation

    Fiji’s military regime has refused to allow an Australian and New Zealand trade union delegation to enter the country on 13 December. Representatives of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) were denied permission to enter the country on arrival at...

    Fiji: Government refuses entry to international trade union delegation
  6. News 9 December 2011

    Bahrain: EI launches a new Urgent Action Appeal

    Education International (EI) has launched a new Urgent Action Appeal on Bahrain, calling on its member organisations to contact their national government as well as the Bahraini diplomatic representations in their country to urge the Bahraini authorities to review the charges and convictions and commute sentences of all teachers, teacher...

    Bahrain: EI launches a new Urgent Action Appeal
  7. News 1 December 2011

    EI Executive Board condemns unjust prison sentence on trade union activists in Turkey

    The EI Executive Board, meeting in Brussels this week, learned with great regret that 25 Turkish trade unionists, members of EGITIM Sen-KESK, which includes the EI affiliate in Turkey, had prison sentences imposed by the Turkish courts for engaging in what would be regarded elsewhere as legitimate trade union activities.

    EI Executive Board condemns unjust prison sentence on trade union activists in Turkey
  8. News 25 November 2011

    On December 1, in your school or your union, talk about HIV and AIDS!

    Each year on December 1, millions of people throughout the world commemorate World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is about raising awareness of HIV and AIDS and is a great opportunity to take action on HIV and AIDS education in schools.

    On December 1, in your school or your union, talk about HIV and AIDS!
  9. News 23 November 2011

    Bahrain: The international teacher trade union movement shows solidarity

    EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, recently visited the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to get first-hand impressions of the situation in a country that has seen severe mistreatment of teachers in the past months, following “Arab Spring”-inspired upheavals throughout the middle eastern state.

    Bahrain: The international teacher trade union movement shows solidarity
  10. News 23 November 2011

    Together combating teachers’ stress

    The EI European Region, ETUCE, wrapped-up a research project on teachers’ work-related stress and presented the results from a European-wide survey on this issue during a Conference held in Berlin on 18-19 November.

    Together combating teachers’ stress
  11. News 10 November 2011

    USA: Ohioan voters reject anti-worker law and agenda

    EI’s U.S. affiliates, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), have celebrated the historical vote overwhelmingly repealing Senate Bill 5, a controversial bill signed into law by Governor John Kasich. This legislation was designed to silence the public workers’ voices and strip away their collective...

    USA: Ohioan voters reject anti-worker law and agenda
  12. News 8 November 2011

    Estonia: massive support for educators’ demand for salary raise

    The Estonian Educational Personal Union (EEPU), one of EI’s national affiliates, has joined a successful demonstration supporting educators’ justified salary demands, held on 25 October in the capital city, Tallinn, in front of the Riigikogu (the Estonian Parliament).

    Estonia: massive support for educators’ demand for salary raise
  13. News 2 November 2011

    Uganda: Teachers warn government about mass action

    The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU), one of EI’s national affiliates, has warned the Government the next phase of their strike will include parents and supporters, should national authorities continue harassing teacher unionists through its security agents.

    Uganda: Teachers warn government about mass action
  14. News 27 October 2011

    Poland: Government welcomes EI’s action protecting Polish minority teachers and students in Lithuania

    EI’s European Region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), adopted a Statement on the Situation of the Teachers from the Schools of National Minorities in Lithuania on 16 September at the Central and Eastern European (CEE) Round Table in Kiev. In response, the Undersecretary of State at the...

    Poland: Government welcomes EI’s action protecting Polish minority teachers and students in Lithuania
  15. News 25 October 2011

    Bahrain: Teacher leaders under threat of torture

    EI has relaunched its Urgent Action Appeal on Bahrain. bahraini teachers fear for the safety of their leaders, after the heavy-handed arrest of their vice president Jalila al-Salman.

    Bahrain: Teacher leaders under threat of torture
  16. News 19 October 2011

    Unions support the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement

    EI is giving its support to the massive popular protest ‘Occupy Wall Street’ which is a movement for economic justice that is spreading across the United States and the world.

    Unions support the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement
  17. News 18 October 2011

    Bahrain: Education union leader calls for international solidarity

    Jalila Al-Salman, Vice-President of the EI-affiliated Bahraini Teachers’ Association (BTA), has called on the international community to support teachers’ legitimate struggle for human and trade unions rights.

    Bahrain: Education union leader calls for international solidarity