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 28 August 2014

    USA: Ferguson’s teachers and students seek refuge in the classroom

    As schools begin to reopen nearly two weeks late following the police shooting of an unarmed African American man, education is being looked to as a way to heal the wounds inflicted on the city’s students.

    USA: Ferguson’s teachers and students seek refuge in the classroom
  2. News 25 August 2014

    Norway: Teacher strike intensifies as schools re-open

    With nearly 7,800 teachers now on strike in Norway, the significant jump in numbers is a sign that educators are refusing to back down as students return to classrooms across the country.

    Norway: Teacher strike intensifies as schools re-open
  3. News 22 August 2014

    Sierra Leone: Teachers fall victim to Ebola

    The deadly flu virus sweeping across Western Africa has reportedly claimed the lives of teachers in at least two areas of Sierra Leone, a country in the eye of the outbreak.

    Sierra Leone: Teachers fall victim to Ebola
  4. News 12 August 2014

    Colombia: EI throws support behind university professor amid false accusations

    Education International has returned to the defence of embattled Colombian academic, Miguel Angel Beltran, issuing a letter calling for an end to false accusations and a politically motivated ban barring him from universities.

    Colombia: EI throws support behind university professor amid false accusations
  5. News 8 August 2014

    Argentina: Human rights crusader’s grandson found

    The grandson of Estela de Carlotto, founder and head of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (Grandmothers of May Square) and recipient of the 2004 Human and Trade Union Rights Award of Education International, has been found.

    Argentina: Human rights crusader’s grandson found
  6. News 7 August 2014

    Argentina: human rights crusader’s grandson found

    The grandson of Estela de Carlotto, founder and head of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (Grandmothers of May Square), Argentina, and recipient of the 2004 Human and Trade Union Rights Award of Education International, has been found.

    Argentina: human rights crusader’s grandson found
  7. News 1 August 2014

    Senegal: Unions support kidnapped Nigerian girls

    On the occasion of the Day of Solidarity and Mobilisation, Senegalese teacher unions, united under the umbrella of the General Association of Teacher Unions (Grand cadre des syndicats de l'enseignement-GCSE), have called for the release of the girls abducted by Boko Haram.The Syndicat des professeurs du Sénégal (SYPROS), a national...

    Senegal: Unions support kidnapped Nigerian girls
  8. News 29 July 2014

    Europe: Education unions highlight gaps in new EU Framework on Health and Safety

    EI’s European Region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), has issued a position paper expressing its concerns about social dialogue and gender issues in the recently issued European Commission’s Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020.

    Europe: Education unions highlight gaps in new EU Framework on Health and Safety
  9. News 29 July 2014

    Cameroon: Trade union rights being attacked

    Cameroon's teacher unions have condemned sanctions imposed by public authorities in Cameroon which threaten the exercise of their trade union rights by workers.

    Cameroon: Trade union rights being attacked
  10. News 28 July 2014

    Nigeria: Teachers fighting for security and minimum wage

    Teachers in Benue State in Nigeria have finally gone back to work after an eight-month strike in the struggle for payment of the minimum wage. And now teachers in the Kogi State are on strike, as some have not been paid at all for four months.

    Nigeria: Teachers fighting for security and minimum wage
  11. News 25 July 2014

    Gaza: Schools should be safe havens

    Yesterday an UNRWA school in Gaza was struck by a missile, killing fifteen persons, mostly women and children, and leaving many injured.

    Gaza: Schools should be safe havens
  12. News 18 July 2014

    Ceasefire call in Gaza must be respected

    "To date more than 40 Gaza children have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. With the recent murder of three Israeli teenagers and the killing of a Palestinian teenager, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is becoming a war on children."

    Ceasefire call in Gaza must be respected
  13. News 18 July 2014

    Join in the 100 Days action for release of kidnapped Nigerian girls

    EI invites member organisations and concerned citizens to join in a call on 23 July to mark the 100th day since the abduction of the girls of Chibok, 219 of whom are still missing, held captive by Boko Haram.

    Join in the 100 Days action for release of kidnapped Nigerian girls
  14. News 15 July 2014

    New report shows educators are targets in armed conflict

    Attacks on teachers and other educators are a disturbingly common tactic of war and a serious threat to education, the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) says in a new study released on 14 July. The report, Protecting Education Personnel from Targeted Attack in Conflict-Affected Countries, describes how...

    New report shows educators are targets in armed conflict
  15. News 14 July 2014

    Legal dispute in Georgia over ESFTUG election results ended after four years

    On 11 July 2014, a judicial decision by the Appeals Court in Tbilisi has finally resolved the legal battle over the legitimacy of the election of Maia Kobakhidze, President of the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia (ESFTUG).

    Legal dispute in Georgia over ESFTUG election results ended after four years
  16. News 14 July 2014

    Uncertain Future for Maternity Leave Directive

    On 15 July 2014, the European Parliament debated the European Commission’s suggestion to withdraw the proposed maternity leave directive and to not take it up again in the next legislature. Many MEPs urged the Commission and the Council of Ministers to resume talks with Parliament.

    Uncertain Future for Maternity Leave Directive
  17. News 14 July 2014

    ETUCE Official EU-OSHA Campaign Partner

    ETUCE has joined forces with the biggest occupational safety and health campaign worldwide, the Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress Campaign coordinated by EU OSHA in more than 30 countries. As official campaign partner, ETUCE will distribute and publicise information about the campaign and participate in benchmarking events.

    ETUCE Official EU-OSHA Campaign Partner