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 5 March 2012

    Egypt: Independent trade union leader sentenced to 6 months’ in jail

    Kamal Abbas, a leading figure in the fight to create independent democratic trade unions in Egypt, has been sentenced to six months in prison for the "crime" of insulting a Mubarak-era union officer at the 2011 International Labour Organisation conference.

    Egypt: Independent trade union leader sentenced to 6 months’ in jail
  2. News 5 March 2012

    USA: Stand with Wisconsin

    On 9 March, 2011, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker pushed through a bill stripping unions of their rights. One year onwards, after massive citizen protests, enough signatures have been gathered to force an election to recall Walker.

    USA: Stand with Wisconsin
  3. News 29 February 2012

    European trade union federations back Spanish workers’ demands

    European trade unions are backing Spanish trade union confederations in their campaign against the reform of the labour code in Spain. EI European region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) has issued, together with the European Federation of Public Service Unions and the European Transport Federation, a Solidarity...

    European trade union federations back Spanish workers’ demands
  4. News 27 February 2012

    Canada: Standing together against violence in schools

    The Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) has published a guide designed to help education staff to prevent and intervene against violence in their workplace.

    Canada: Standing together against violence in schools
  5. News 23 February 2012

    Bahrain: Mahdi Abu Dheeb denied release on bail yet again

    The Bahraini Supreme Court of Appeal has once more turned down Bahrain Teacher Association’s president Mahdi Abu Dheeb’s request for temporary release because of health reasons.

    Bahrain: Mahdi Abu Dheeb denied release on bail yet again
  6. News 17 February 2012

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the arrests of female union officers in connection with 8th of March celebrations

    EI and ETUCE strongly condemn the police raid against union members of the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK) on 13 February in Ankara. Fifteen women union leaders were dragged from their bed and taken into custody. The union offices and personal computers were also searched.

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the arrests of female union officers in connection with 8th of March celebrations
  7. News 16 February 2012

    Cameroon: Strike action to protest at broken government promises

    One of EI’s national affiliates, the Fédération Camerounaise des Syndicats de l'Education(FECASE), has joined other education unions supported by the Public Sector Union Confederation (CSP) calling for a strike in the basic and secondary education sectors on 14-17 February. Trade Unionists condemn the government’s attitude, saying it is not adhering...

    Cameroon: Strike action to protest at broken government promises
  8. News 15 February 2012

    Bahrain: Teacher leader on hunger strike

    Mahdi Abu Dheeb, the imprisoned president of Bahrain's Teachers’ Association, has begun a hunger strike to protest about his unfair detention and continued ill-treatment in prison.

    Bahrain: Teacher leader on hunger strike
  9. News 14 February 2012

    Chilean student leader named Person of the year 2011 by UK newspaper

    A 23-year-old Chilean student leader has been named as ‘Person of the Year 2011’ by a British newspaper. Camila Vallejo received the accolade from The Guardian, ahead of leading personalities, including German chancellor Angela Merkel. Vallejo, ex-President of the University of Chile’s Student Federation (FECH), secured 78 per cent of...

    Chilean student leader named Person of the year 2011 by UK newspaper
  10. News 9 February 2012

    Greece: Austerity measures put trade union rights at considerable risk

    EI and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have condemned the latest developments in the negotiation between the national government and the Troika (European Commission, European Central Bank [ECB], and International Monetary Fund [IMF]) that would smash minimum wages, collective agreements and rights in Greece.

    Greece: Austerity measures put trade union rights at considerable risk
  11. News 2 February 2012

    Bahrain: Help free trade union leader Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb!

    EI has launched a campaign to urge the Bahraini authorities to immediately release on bail Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, President of the Bahraini Teachers Association (BTA), given his deteriorating health condition. This campaign is organised in partnership with LabourStart, an online news service aiming to serve the international trade...

    Bahrain: Help free trade union leader Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb!
  12. News 12 January 2012

    Kenya: teachers under threat over exam results

    The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), one of EI’s national affiliates, has condemned the surge of violence against teachers following the release of the results for the national Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations (KCPE).

    Kenya: teachers under threat over exam results
  13. News 11 January 2012

    Iran must stop execution of Amir Hekmati

    Amir Hekmati (28), an Arizona born Iranian-American, accused of spying for the CIA, was sentenced to death earlier this week after an unfair trial without access to consular assistance.

    Iran must stop execution of Amir Hekmati
  14. News 20 December 2011

    Lebanon: teacher unions strike over insulting wage rise

    Tens of thousands of teachers including EI’s affiliates the Syndicate of Private School Teachers (TSL) and the League of Public Secondary Teachers (LPESPL), went on strike across Lebanon on December 15. They are threatening to widen the action if the government fails to improve its planned wage increase.

    Lebanon: teacher unions strike over insulting wage rise
  15. News 20 December 2011

    EI strengthens international trade unionism and its internal structures

    At its 39th meeting held on 30 November-1 December, EI Executive Board adopted new policies related to the crisis and its impact on unions worldwide. These policies are partly represented by resolutions on ‘the Strengthening of International Trade Unionism within the Context of Globalisation,’ and ‘EI Structures.’

    EI strengthens international trade unionism and its internal structures
  16. News 16 December 2011

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the prison sentences against teacher unionists

    EI has launched a petition in association with LabourStart to condemn the prison sentences imposed on 25 Turkish trade unionists, members of both EI affiliate Egitim Sen and the Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK).

    Turkey: Sign urgent appeal to condemn the prison sentences against teacher unionists
  17. News 14 December 2011

    Bahrain: Appeal of teacher union leaders postponed

    The appeal of Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA) leaders, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb, has been postponed to 19 February, in order to be able to include the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report. This postponement will effectively prolong the detention of Mahdi Abu Dheeb, the...

    Bahrain: Appeal of teacher union leaders postponed