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 December 2012

    Turkey: Three female trade unionists released

    EI welcomes the release of three female members of KESK, the Turkish public services’ trade union confederation. The three, released on 13 December by the Ankara Court, include Güldane Erdo?an from the teacher union E?itim Sen, who has been imprisoned for 10 months.

    Turkey: Three female trade unionists released
  2. News 10 December 2012

    New international project to promote human and workers’ rights

    On International Human Rights Day 2012, Education International (EI) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) launched a new international teachers’ union project in Egypt, Georgia, Honduras and Zimbabwe.

    New international project to promote human and workers’ rights
  3. News 7 December 2012

    Educators celebrate International Day for Human Rights

    As trade unions mark the International Day for Human Rights on 10 December, EI pays tribute to teachers and education workers around the world who fight for the right to live and work in dignity. These educators also fight for freedom of expression, assembly and association; the right to bargain...

    Educators celebrate International Day for Human Rights
  4. News 6 December 2012

    28 students and teachers killed in mortar attack on Syrian school

    According to media reports yesterday, at least 28 students and a teacher were killed when a mortar hit the Batiha school in al-Wafidin camp, a community of about 25,000 displaced people, about twenty kilometres northeast of the capital. The reports said Syria’s official Sana news agency accused Syrian rebel forces...

    28 students and teachers killed in mortar attack on Syrian school
  5. News 30 November 2012

    EI opposes planned government restrictions on the internet

    A draft treaty to be voted at the upcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) has severe implications for teachers, students, education support staff, union members and the rights of individuals around the world.

    EI opposes planned government restrictions on the internet
  6. News 27 November 2012

    Bahrain: Trade unionist released from prison

    EI welcomed the release from prison of Jalila Al-Salman, the acting President of the Bahraini Teachers’ Association (BTA), on 25 November.

    Bahrain: Trade unionist released from prison
  7. News 23 November 2012

    Turkey: Stop the judicial harassment against unionists

    On 13 December 2012, Turkey will see a new episode in the judicial harassment against trade unionists, as three women unionists, including Güldane Erdo?an from the teacher union Egitim Sen, will appear in front of the Court in Ankara. Those women were amongst of the 15 female union leaders who...

    Turkey: Stop the judicial harassment against unionists
  8. News 21 November 2012

    Bahrain: Free Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb!

    EI launched in November an Urgent Action Appeal for Bahrain. It demands that Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, Vice President and President of the Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA), be released from jail.

    Bahrain: Free Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb!
  9. News 19 November 2012

    ILO highlights serious labour right cases

    Argentina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji and Peru were singled out by the Committee on Freedom of Association of the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO). Committee members reviewed cases involving rights to organise, negotiation through collective bargaining and engagement in social dialogue, on 1-16 November in Geneva.

    ILO highlights serious labour right cases
  10. News 16 November 2012

    EI calls for cease-fire in Middle East

    Education International has expressed deep concern over the safety of school children and teachers in Gaza and Israel, as violence is escalating in the area. It has urged Hamas and Israel to call a permanent cease-fire, and to respect the principle of the right to education in safety.

    EI calls for cease-fire in Middle East
  11. News 16 November 2012

    Honduras: Union condemns intimidation of teachers

    The Federation of Teachers’ Organisations of Honduras (FOMH), of which there are five EI member organisations, has reported large-scale dismissals, salary cuts and temporary suspensions of teachers which have been justified by false allegations.

    Honduras: Union condemns intimidation of teachers
  12. News 9 November 2012

    Colombia:

    Miguel Angel Beltran
    Colombia:
  13. News 9 November 2012

    Arab Union Leaders condemn human and trade union rights abuses

    Leaders of teachers’ organisations in the Arab region are outraged by the recent verdict of a Bahraini appeal court in which it sentenced the President of the Bahraini Teachers Association (BTA), Mahdi Abu Deeb, to 5 years imprisonment for taking part in national demonstrations in 2011. The Vice President of...

    Arab Union Leaders condemn human and trade union rights abuses
  14. News 7 November 2012

    Canada: Students across Quebec learn lessons in online privacy

    On 5 November, schools across Quebec joined an event hosted by Laurier Macdonald High School in Montreal, to launch Media Literacy Week 2012. Students had the opportunity to talk with a panel of experts about online privacy as part of this year’s theme Privacy Matters.

    Canada: Students across Quebec learn lessons in online privacy
  15. News 30 October 2012

    Jordan: Refugees need teachers and textbooks

    "We must make every possible effort to provide support to the Syrian children and teachers in the refugee camps in Jordan," said EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen and ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, who visited the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Mafraq on 28 October. They met with refugees and...

    Jordan: Refugees need teachers and textbooks
  16. News 16 October 2012

    EI Executive Board condemns the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai

    At its meeting in Brussels from 16-18 October, the Executive Board of Education International, which represents 30 million teachers and other educators worldwide, condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the shooting by the Taliban of the fourteen year old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, because of her efforts to promote girls...

    EI Executive Board condemns the attempted assassination of Malala Yousafzai