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 20 September 2009

    EI EFAIDS in Papua New Guinea

    Papua New Guinea is the latest country to join the EI EFAIDS Programme. The Papua New Guinea Teachers’ Association, which represents half of the country’s 40,000 teachers, recently held its first training workshop. Twenty-one participants from across the union structure met in Port Moresby for three days of discussion and...

    EI EFAIDS in Papua New Guinea
  2. News 20 September 2009

    EI EFAIDS Programme Thrives in Post-Conflict West Africa

    The electric generator was running outside the classroom and the rain pounded on the corrugated zinc roof. The noise might have been a distraction to some, but not to the 30 EFAIDS participants of the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL). 30 teachers met in Monrovia, motivated, focussed, and thirsty...

    EI EFAIDS Programme Thrives in Post-Conflict West Africa
  3. News 20 September 2009

    Indian union recommends more practical teacher training

    EI affiliate, the All India Primary Teacher’s Federation published a study on the effectiveness of in-service training for primary teachers in two of the country’s states. Research was carried out in Bihar and Tamil Nadu, the third and seventh most populous states in the country.

    Indian union recommends more practical teacher training
  4. News 20 September 2009

    Kenyan union insists on proper jobs for properly trained teachers

    As the school year begins across Kenya, the Kenya National Union of Teachers, KNUT, has successfully initiated legal action to block government plans to hire ‘intern’ teachers, fearing that this new development would create a new sub-class of underpaid teachers, which would further endanger the achievement of quality education.

    Kenyan union insists on proper jobs for properly trained teachers
  5. News 3 September 2009

    EI launches Urgent Action Appeal for the Fijian Teachers' Association

    EI has launched an urgent appeal for action to its member and partner organisations on 3 September to engage their help in appealing against the dismissal of the president of the Fijian Teachers' Association (FTA) Tevita Koroi.

    EI launches Urgent Action Appeal for the Fijian Teachers' Association
  6. 1 September 2009

    Worldwide solidarity with Iranian workers

    As thousands of Iranian citizens took to the streets of Tehran and other cities to demand fairness in their national election process, workers around the world expressed their support for social justice in Iran. On 26 June, EI and its affiliates joined trade unionists and activists in many countries to...

    Worldwide solidarity with Iranian workers
  7. 1 September 2009

    Teaching abolition

    “Open a school, and you will close a prison.” – Victor Hugo

    Teaching abolition
  8. News 12 August 2009

    Zimbabwe: teachers’ salary still below poverty line

    Zimbabwean teacher unions ZIMTA and PTUZ have called the recent salary increase that places teacher salaries at US$155 a month ‘inadequate’ and urged the government to provide a living wage for teachers.

    Zimbabwe: teachers’ salary still below poverty line
  9. News 12 August 2009

    Teacher unions strive to safeguard education amidst the continuing crisis

    Honduran teacher unions have opted to join a general strike in the face of escalating violence in the country. Following the recent killings of two teachers, teacher unions have abandoned their previous compromise plan of teaching three days a week and supporting the national resistance to the unelected regime two...

    Teacher unions strive to safeguard education amidst the continuing crisis
  10. News 12 August 2009

    EFAIDS Programme in West Africa

    Unions across West Africa have had a busy first half of 2009 working on the EFAIDS Programme, and have been particularly active in the area of training and publications.

    EFAIDS Programme in West Africa
  11. News 12 August 2009

    Teach ‘One Hour on AIDS’ on World AIDS Day

    World AIDS Day may be several months away but teacher unions are eager to start preparing their activities. For many students school is a valuable, and sometimes the only source, of accurate information on HIV and AIDS.

    Teach ‘One Hour on AIDS’ on World AIDS Day
  12. News 12 August 2009

    The real cost of cuts in HIV and AIDS spending

    People living with HIV are feeling the effects of the global economic crisis as governments around the world cut spending on treatment. According to Miguel D’EScoto President of the UN General Assembly, “many governments are resigned to reducing programmes and diminished expectations”.

    The real cost of cuts in HIV and AIDS spending
  13. News 4 August 2009

    Turkish unionists remain in jail

    Trade unions worldwide continue to protest at the continued harassment, random judicial proceedings and detention of members and leaders of the teacher union Egitim Sen and Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK).

    Turkish unionists remain in jail