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 13 December 2007

    Ethiopia: EI condemns government interference in the union elections

    Teachers throughout Ethiopia have been summoned to meetings with school principals, where teachers are informed they shall elect school representatives for the "Ethiopia Teachers' Association".

    Ethiopia: EI condemns government interference in the union elections
  2. News 13 December 2007

    Teachers mark World AIDS Day with 'One Hour on AIDS' initiative

    EI would like to congratulate its affiliates for their efforts to mobilise their members and society at large to celebrate World AIDS Day 2007 and to launch the new ‘One Hour on AIDS’ initiative with commitment and enthusiasm!

    Teachers mark World AIDS Day with 'One Hour on AIDS' initiative
  3. News 13 December 2007

    St Vincent and the Grenadines: Caribbean unions take EFAIDS a step forward

    In October thirteen unions affiliated to EI came together in Kingston to review their progress on the EFAIDS Programme thus far, to plan for 2008 and to benefit from training on two new toolkits related to gender safe schools and the greater integration of teachers living with HIV and AIDS...

    St Vincent and the Grenadines: Caribbean unions take EFAIDS a step forward
  4. News 13 December 2007

    Teacher Unions strongly represented in EFA and HIV discussions

    In early December a number of meetings took place on Education for All and HIV/AIDS in Nairobi. UN-agencies, the World Bank, NGOs, trade unions and bilateral donors convened under the umbrella of the Inter-Agency Task Team on Education and HIV/AIDS. Likewise thirteen EFAIDS coordinators from Eastern and Southern Africa and...

    Teacher Unions strongly represented in EFA and HIV discussions
  5. News 13 December 2007

    UNAIDS Report says HIV prevalence levelling off

    UNAIDS and the WHO have revised downward the figure on global HIV prevalence. Partially in response to the impact of HIV programmes, but also due to the introduction of new surveillance methods, UNAIDS puts the number of people living with HIV globally at 33.2 million, down from 39.5 million in...

    UNAIDS Report says HIV prevalence levelling off
  6. News 28 November 2007

    World AIDS Day: Teachers take the lead

    To mark World AIDS Day, Education International is challenging educators around the world to teach the same lesson as part of a new initiative called "One Hour on AIDS."

    World AIDS Day: Teachers take the lead
  7. News 28 November 2007

    Pakistan: Protests after the arrest of trade unionists during state of emergency

    The Council of Global Unions*, headed by the EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen, protested against the arrests of several trade union leaders following the imposition of the state of emergency earlier in November.

    Pakistan: Protests after the arrest of trade unionists during state of emergency
  8. News 31 October 2007

    Ethiopia-Three teachers released

    In an email dated 29 October 2007, Gemoraw Kassa, General Secretary of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association(ETA), informed EI that the Ethiopian Federal Supreme Court decided on that day to release on bail detained colleagues Anteneh Getnet, Berhanu Aba-Debissa, Wolde Dana, along with Wibit Ligamo, Dana’s wife.

    Ethiopia-Three teachers released
  9. 25 October 2007

    HIV and AIDS as a Major Global Issue

    According to UNAIDS, HIV was discovered in 1981. Since then over 65 million people have been infected with the virus and 25 million have died of AIDS. It is estimated by UNAIDS that over 8,000 people are dying from AIDS every day. Although the numbers of people affected vary greatly...

    HIV and AIDS as a Major Global Issue
  10. News 17 October 2007

    Ethiopia: EI relaunched Urgent Action Appeal for the release of ETA members

    In light of the Urgent Resolution adopted by its recent 5th World Congress, EI calls on the solidarity and support of its members and partners to ensure the immediate release of detained Ethiopian colleagues.

    Ethiopia: EI relaunched Urgent Action Appeal for the release of ETA members
  11. News 17 October 2007

    East and Southern Africa: New report on supporting HIV-Positive Teachers

    EI together with its EFAIDS partners the Education Development Center (EDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNESCO are pleased to announce the release of the publication ‘Supporting HIV-Positive Teachers in East and Southern Africa: Technical Consultation Report’.

    East and Southern Africa: New report on supporting HIV-Positive Teachers
  12. News 17 October 2007

    New World AIDS Day Schools Initiative: 'One Hour on AIDS'

    Education International is pleased to announce a new initiative to mark World AIDS Day in classrooms this November 30 (December 1 being a Saturday). 'One Hour on AIDS' will see learners around the world benefiting from lessons on AIDS on the same day. EI is putting together a kit specially...

    New World AIDS Day Schools Initiative: 'One Hour on AIDS'
  13. News 17 October 2007

    Argentina: CTERA Steps Up AIDS Prevention Efforts

    Over the last month, EI's affiliate in Argentina, CTERA, has been involved in a number of new initiatives related to HIV prevention.

    Argentina: CTERA Steps Up AIDS Prevention Efforts
  14. News 17 October 2007

    India: Sex Education in Schools

    Since the first case was detected in the 1980s, AIDS has become one of the largest killers in the world. Every day, some 7,200 young people are contracting HIV in the world. In India, 15% of HIV/AIDS patients are children under 15 years of age. At a time when HIV...

    India: Sex Education in Schools