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 14 May 2014

    Latvia: Union mobilises for pay increase

    Educators and science employees took to the streets of Riga Monday to demand additional state financing for effective education reforms.

    Latvia: Union mobilises for pay increase
  2. News 9 May 2014

    Classrooms no safe haven for Nigerian teachers: 171 killed since 2009

    The global outrage and support for Nigeria’s abducted schoolgirls have exposed the risks many face in pursuit of an education, including the constant threat teachers must endure to do their jobs.

    Classrooms no safe haven for Nigerian teachers: 171 killed since 2009
  3. News 8 May 2014

    Canada: Task force recommendations undermine teachers, says union

    The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has strongly rejected the Task Force for Teaching Excellence report released by Alberta’s Education Minister, considering it as an assault on teachers.

    Canada: Task force recommendations undermine teachers, says union
  4. News 6 May 2014

    Health and Safety Recommendation Adopted

    A set of health and safety recommendations was adopted by the ETUCE Committee on 14/15 April 2014. The recommendations indicate how teacher unions can work and act together in times of crisis to maintain and promote health and safe working conditions in the education sector.

    Health and Safety Recommendation Adopted
  5. News 5 May 2014

    Global action week: equal rights for children with disabilities

    Children with disabilities are more likely to be out of school than any other group of children. The Global Campaign for Education’s action week from 4-10 May 2014 aims to challenge the exclusion faced by disabled children in realising their right to education.

    Global action week: equal rights for children with disabilities
  6. News 30 April 2014

    Turkish unions demand their right to celebrate May Day peacefully

    Turkish unions are making it clear that they will move ahead with peaceful celebrations on the first of May, despite a government prohibition of events in Istanbul’s most iconic square.

    Turkish unions demand their right to celebrate May Day peacefully
  7. News 29 April 2014

    UK: Shock as teacher stabbed to death in school

    EI is horrified to learn that 61-year-old Spanish teacher Anne Maguire was stabbed to death in front of students on 28 April at the Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, UK. A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident.

    UK: Shock as teacher stabbed to death in school
  8. News 29 April 2014

    Honduras: ILO Mission assesses union rights violations

    Attacks against teachers’ rights and the threats to public education in Honduras have been denounced at a meeting last week of the Federation of Honduran Teachers’ Organisations (FOMH) and the Direct Contact Mission of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    Honduras: ILO Mission assesses union rights violations
  9. News 17 April 2014

    Nigerian Teachers’ union condemns abduction of female students

    Eight students are still missing after Nigeria’s military rescued 121 school girls two days after they were kidnapped at gunpoint in the country’s north-eastern Borno State. In response, The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has firmly condemned the 14 April abductions carried-out by suspected members of the terrorist group Boko...

    Nigerian Teachers’ union condemns abduction of female students
  10. News 17 April 2014

    Lebanon: strike follows Government failure to decide educators’ salary increase

    The Union Coordination Committee (UCC) comprising Lebanon’s four EI national affiliates – the Ligue des professeurs de l’enseignement secondaire public du Liban (LPESPL), the Teachers Syndicate of Lebanon (TSL), the Comité des enseignants techniques officiels (CETO), and the Public Primary Schools Teachers League in Lebanon (PPSTLL) - along with other...

    Lebanon: strike follows Government failure to decide educators’ salary increase
  11. News 8 April 2014

    Social workers more likely to work while sick

    Social workers are more likely to come to work while sick than the average worker in EU28, a recent Eurofound report shows. The report compares working conditions for social workers in kindergartens, schools, youth services, and social care with the EU28 as a whole.

    Social workers more likely to work while sick
  12. News 27 March 2014

    Iceland: No end in sight to ongoing strike

    Icelandic high-school and technical school teachers have now been on strike for nine days. Negotiations are faltering, due to a government offer on 25 March that was lower than what was offered the week prior to the strike. A new high school law will be implemented in 2015, but Iceland’s...

    Iceland: No end in sight to ongoing strike
  13. News 25 March 2014

    Social dialogue in public services to be discussed at the ILO

    An EI delegation will discuss how to strengthen collective bargaining rights for public employees in a forum convened by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). From 2-3 April, representatives of workers, governments, and employers will make recommendations for future action to the ILO and its constituents.

    Social dialogue in public services to be discussed at the ILO
  14. News 25 March 2014

    Campaign on managing stress and psychosocial risks at work

    An EU-wide campaign on ‘Managing stress and psychosocial risks at work’ is going to be launched on 7 April 2014 by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).

    Campaign on managing stress and psychosocial risks at work
  15. News 25 March 2014

    EI mission to Ukraine

    On 4-5 March during a visit of EI/ETUCE representative Kounka Damianova to Kiev, the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine (STESU) made an urgent request that Education International send an international delegation to Kiev.

    EI mission to Ukraine