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 17 October 2007

    Benin: EI Affiliates initiate joint health education activities

    Eight EI affiliates in Benin have just set up a new joint committee called COSIEB to implement their HIV and AIDS education through schools programme. The eight unions organise teachers from early to higher education and will be able to reach out to teachers of all levels in Benin.

    Benin: EI Affiliates initiate joint health education activities
  2. News 10 October 2007

    Argentina: Carlos Fuentealba remembered

    Teachers in Argentina joined a national strike convened by EI affiliate CTERA on October 4th to demand that those responsible for the assassination of Carlos Fuentealba be brought to justice.

    Argentina: Carlos Fuentealba remembered
  3. News 5 October 2007

    Students detained in Gaza

    Education International is deeply concerned by reports that up to 600 students have been denied exit from Gaza despite assurances from the Israeli authorities that they would be allowed to leave.

    Students detained in Gaza
  4. News 1 October 2007

    Burma: Urgent Action Appeal

    Education International encourages all member organisations to write to the Burmese representatives in their countries following the recent violent repression used to break up peaceful demonstrations.

    Burma: Urgent Action Appeal
  5. News 28 September 2007

    EI deplores repression of academics and students in Bangladesh

    EI has written to Ehsanul Haque, Private Secretary to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, expressing concern at the violent repression of university student protests.

    EI deplores repression of academics and students in Bangladesh
  6. News 28 September 2007

    PSI World Congress

    The world must not stand aside, but must act in support of a free and democratic Burma. That is the message from the World Congress of the Public Services International, taking place in Vienna from 24 to 28 September.

    PSI World Congress
  7. News 13 September 2007

    Ghana: Union Research reconfirms HIV/AIDS as a key workplace issue

    EI affiliates the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) have just finalised research on HIV/AIDS in the education sector.

    Ghana: Union Research reconfirms HIV/AIDS as a key workplace issue
  8. News 13 September 2007

    Honduras: Unions get moving on training!

    From June 26-28, the Honduran national HIV and AIDS teachers’ union prevention committee, coordinated by Rosario Avila (EFAIDS Programme Coordinator/COLPROSUMAH), together with EI, the EDC and CTERA/Argentina, organised an HIV and AIDS workshop at the headquarters of COPEMH in Tegucigalpa.

    Honduras: Unions get moving on training!
  9. News 13 September 2007

    Caribbean: EI Regional Coordinator visits Haiti, Guyana and Suriname

    The EFAIDS programme has started to have an impact among students and teachers in Guyana, Suriname and Haiti. This was the overall conclusion drawn by the EI regional Coordinator Virginia Albert on a recent evaluation visit to these countries.

    Caribbean: EI Regional Coordinator visits Haiti, Guyana and Suriname
  10. News 13 September 2007

    EFAIDS Programme Branches Out!

    EI, the EDC and WHO have developed two new toolkits which will be the basis of training sessions carried out by teachers’ unions participating in the EFAIDS Programme over the coming months.

    EFAIDS Programme Branches Out!
  11. News 13 September 2007

    Education International Congress examines EFAIDS issues

    What has been the experience of teachers’ unions on the EFAIDS Programme thus far? How is the training of teachers on HIV/AIDS education developing? What challenges still lie in the path of the unions striving to achieve the Education for All goals? These and other questions were reflected upon at...

    Education International Congress examines EFAIDS issues
  12. News 13 September 2007

    ActionAid Publish Report on Abstinence

    ActionAid have just published a report which develops new theories on the issue of sexual abstinence as a means of preventing HIV infection.

    ActionAid Publish Report on Abstinence
  13. News 30 August 2007

    Colombia: Raquel Castro finally released

    EI is delighted to inform all members and Global Union partners that Raquel Castro, Colombian teacher and union activist, was released from prison last August 2nd.

    Colombia: Raquel Castro finally released
  14. News 23 August 2007

    Mexico: Solution to the conflict in Oaxaca must be found, says EI

    Following the resolution passed by the 5th EI World Congress held in July 2007, EI urges the governor of the State of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, to find an immediate and satisfactory solution to end the conflict between the authorities and teachers.

    Mexico: Solution to the conflict in Oaxaca must be found, says EI
  15. News 14 August 2007

    Peru: Government urged to respect teachers' rights

    The 5th EI World Congress held from 22-26 July in Berlin passed an urgent resolution on the current situation in Peru, where the conflict between the government and teachers has resulted in many arrested and one teacher killed.

    Peru: Government urged to respect teachers' rights