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 October 2023

    Workers exchange strategies for inclusive trade unions and education systems

    Trade unionists gathered for the 6th Education International (EI)/Public Services International (PSI) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)+ Forum held on 13 October in Geneva, Switzerland, reaffirming the need for workers, including in the public education sector, to show promising practices on how trade unions are , protecting LGBT+ rights,...

    Workers exchange strategies for inclusive trade unions and education systems
  2. News 19 October 2023

    Top Asia-Pacific education unionists advocate for increased investment in public education systems and educators, and call for gender equity, and sustainable, democratic and peaceful societies

    The Education International Asia-Pacific (EIAP) Regional Committee called for a greater investment in public education and educators, more for gender equity within unions, urgent action on climate change and expressed solidarity with colleagues across the region and the world who are facing violations of their human and trade union rights.

    Top Asia-Pacific education unionists advocate for increased investment in public education systems and educators, and call for gender equity, and sustainable, democratic and peaceful societies
  3. News 13 October 2023

    Iran: Education International denounces harassment of teachers at United Nations Human Rights Committee

    Education International (EI) denounced the arbitrary detention and torture of teachers and students, particularly girls, in Iran, to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on October 9 in Geneva. As a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is obligated to uphold rights related to...

    Iran: Education International denounces harassment of teachers at United Nations Human Rights Committee
  4. News 28 September 2023

    Tanzania: EI requests the Government to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the Tanzania Teachers Union

    Education International is concerned by the disruption of legitimate union activities and meetings of the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) by the police, including a TTU Council meeting on 25 September. The intimidation and intervention in the internal affairs of the union by government authorities is a serious violation of international...

    Tanzania: EI requests the Government to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the Tanzania Teachers Union
  5. News 27 September 2023

    African educators demand increased funding for education and express solidarity with colleagues in crisis

    Education unions in Africa demand increased funding for public education systems and teachers, as they prepare the upcoming regional conference, and show full solidarity with teachers and education support personnel across the continent. These are the key messages conveyed by the Education International Africa Regional Committee (EIARC) during its 20...

    African educators demand increased funding for education and express solidarity with colleagues in crisis
  6. News 14 September 2023

    Iran: Education International demands an end to all violations of human and trade union rights!

    This September 16th, 2023 marks one year since the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini at the hands of police in Iran. Her death sparked widespread protests across Iran and gave rise to the Woman Life Freedom movement. Since then, the repressive state apparatus has worked to silence all dissent, increasing...

    Iran: Education International demands an end to all violations of human and trade union rights!
  7. News 14 September 2023

    Education trade unions and Indigenous Peoples: A firm commitment in Latin America

    Teacher trade unionists from various Indigenous Peoples, members of organisations affiliated to Education International Latin America (EILA), gathered in Panama City on 4, 5 and 6 September for the 10th Regional Meeting on Public Education and Indigenous Peoples. The event marks the continuation of a process initiated in 2009 in...

    Education trade unions and Indigenous Peoples: A firm commitment in Latin America
  8. Take action! 13 September 2023

    Iran: Release teacher union leaders voicing legitimate workers’ demands!

    Education International (EI) calls on its member organisations to urge the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release jailed Iranian teacher unionists and to respect trade union rights.

    Iran: Release teacher union leaders voicing legitimate workers’ demands!
  9. Statements 1 September 2023

    A cry for justice: Solidarity with teachers in South Korea

    Education International extends its unwavering support to the teachers in South Korea who in increasing numbers have been demonstrating every Saturday united under the common cause of public education. Education International stands in solidarity and denounces any and all attempts by the government to deny their rights.

    A cry for justice: Solidarity with teachers in South Korea
  10. News 23 August 2023

    Concerns mount over teacher detentions and threats in Angola

    Education International has expressed grave concerns to Angolan authorities following distressing reports of illegal detentions of teacher unionists and threats against educators. Threats include negative evaluations, terminations, and the exclusion of unionised probationary teachers from employment opportunities. Particularly troubling is a letter from a provincial education director, urging national police...

    Concerns mount over teacher detentions and threats in Angola
  11. News 10 August 2023

    UK: Raising the status and living conditions of Education Support Personnel

    Education International (EI) welcomes success achieved by the National Education Union, an EI member organisation in the UK, getting increased funding for schools to ensure that the pay awards are adequately funded and prevent the need for staffing cuts.

    UK: Raising the status and living conditions of Education Support Personnel
  12. News 17 July 2023

    Tunisia: the government must respect the trade union rights of primary school teachers

    In a letter of protest dated 13 July 2023 addressed to Tunisian Education Minister Ali Mohamed Al Boughdiri, Education International (EI) condemned the salary penalties imposed on teacher trade unionists calling for better funding of education in their country.

    Tunisia: the government must respect the trade union rights of primary school teachers
  13. News 17 July 2023

    Education International’s Executive Board: World Congress, 30 years of mobilising, artificial intelligence in education, addressing the global teacher shortage

    The Education International Executive Board met online on July 6 and July 14. EI’s 9th World Congress held online on July 11 to 13, as well as the organisation’s strategy on the use of artificial intelligence in education, and the launch of the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession...

    Education International’s Executive Board: World Congress, 30 years of mobilising, artificial intelligence in education, addressing the global teacher shortage
  14. News 14 July 2023

    Record high level of workers’ rights violations in 2023, Global Rights Index reports

    Nine out of 10 countries violated the right to strike in 2023. 77% of countries excluded workers from establishing or joining trade unions. The 2023 Global Rights Index, launched on 30 June 2023, highlights the injustices faced by workers globally and the status of the countries with the highest violations...

    Record high level of workers’ rights violations in 2023, Global Rights Index reports
  15. News 19 June 2023

    Uganda: Education International condemns the horrific attack on Lhubiriha Secondary school

    Education International, the global federation of educators, strongly condemns the horrific attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe, Uganda and mourns in solidarity with the families and communities impacted by this devastating act of violence.

    Uganda: Education International condemns the horrific attack on Lhubiriha Secondary school