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 7 June 2017

    ILO: Educators highlight labour concerns in sector

    Teachers and education professionals attending the 106th session of the International Labour Conference are going to defend their labour rights in the presence of Governments and employers’ organisations.

    ILO: Educators highlight labour concerns in sector
  2. Worlds of Education 1 June 2017

    Teacher union renewal: developing the power of the profession

    Howard Stevenson

    The challenges that face teachers often look very similar around the world. Global league tables are often behind the relentless pressure to drive test scores up, whilst the forces of global economic competition explain a race to the bottom on teachers’ working conditions. Teachers experience ever rising workloads, but perhaps...

    Teacher union renewal: developing the power of the profession
  3. Worlds of Education 31 May 2017

    Re-thinking Disability

    Tania Principe

    Over the last 50 years, attitudes toward disability have changed. Whether viewing disability as a medical condition, through the prism of human rights or forms of exclusion, the understanding of disability has dramatically evolved. One could argue that we now know more than ever about disability.

    Re-thinking Disability
  4. News 29 May 2017

    Romania: 65th country to endorse Safe Schools Declaration

    Education International welcomes the move by Romania to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration, a commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities during times of war.

    Romania: 65th country to endorse Safe Schools Declaration
  5. News 23 May 2017

    Colombia: Solidarity in the wake of attacks against teachers union

    Just days after an attack on the head office of Colombian teachers union FECODE, the international community has already been quick to express its solidarity and support of Colombian teachers and the peace process.

    Colombia: Solidarity in the wake of attacks against teachers union
  6. News 19 May 2017

    IRAN: Teacher Union Leader Esmail Abdi on Hunger Strike

    Education International (EI) reiterates its global solidarity call to request the immediate and unconditional release of Esmail Abdi, a leader of the Tehran Teacher Trade Association, who was sentenced to six years in jail on false charges by Branch 36 of the Appeals Court of Tehran last October.

    IRAN: Teacher Union Leader Esmail Abdi on Hunger Strike
  7. News 16 May 2017

    Iran: urgent action needed to help free education unionist

    Education International reiterates its call for global solidarity and urges Iranian public authorities to immediately release imprisoned education union leader Esmail Abdi, whose hunger strike is taking a toll on his health.

    Iran: urgent action needed to help free education unionist
  8. News 12 May 2017

    UK: MPs call halt to high-stakes primary testing

    Teacher unionists have welcomed a new report by the UK Commons Education Select Committee on Primary Assessment, highlighting the need to reform high-stakes tests in primary school.

    UK: MPs call halt to high-stakes primary testing
  9. News 11 May 2017

    Denmark: 64th country to endorse Safe Schools Declaration

    Education International welcomes the move by Denmark to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration, a commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities during times of war.

    Denmark: 64th country to endorse Safe Schools Declaration
  10. News 9 May 2017

    African education union leaders reaffirm commitment to improve unity

    The Regional Dialogue Forum on Human Resources Issues in the Education Sector provided African teacher union leaders and education stakeholders with the opportunity to stress the importance of teacher trade union unity and social dialogue on education.

    African education union leaders reaffirm commitment to improve unity
  11. News 8 May 2017

    Nigeria: Relief about release of 82 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram

    Education International has warmly welcomed the release of 82 schoolgirls from a group of 276 abducted three years ago by Islamist militants of the Boko Haram group in north-eastern Nigeria.

    Nigeria: Relief about release of 82 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram
  12. Worlds of Education 4 May 2017

    Building human rights education through global teacher networks

    John Heffernan

    A few years ago, calling for a more robust worldwide embrace of human rights education by invoking the Holocaust, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid bin Ra'ad said in a speech given at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: “Eight of the 15 people who planned the Holocaust in 1942...

    Building human rights education through global teacher networks
  13. News 3 May 2017

    Putting teachers at the heart of education systems the focus in Rotterdam

    The message on day one of the Unite for Quality Education and Leadership Conference was clear, with educators looking at making sure that teachers themselves are the architects of the profession and of education systems.

    Putting teachers at the heart of education systems the focus in Rotterdam
  14. News 1 May 2017

    This May Day, why not try solidarity?

    As the occasion to celebrate and reaffirm the value and values of trade unions, from which their principles continue to inspire, today must also serve as a lens to carefully examine our societies and institutions.

    This May Day, why not try solidarity?