All teachers and education support personnel have the right to organise and be part of a union that represents and defends their values and interests. However, around the world, education unions are facing serious attacks and operate in increasingly challenging and hostile environments. Revitalising unions, building their power by boosting membership and active participation and maximising impact is the way forward.
At its 22nd congress held in Yamoussoukro between 1-4 April, the Syndicat National de l’Enseignement Secondaire de Côte D’Ivoire (SYNESCI) elected a new executive board. It also emphasised the crucial role of educators in national reconciliation and reconstruction.
Ivory Coast: teachers' role in reconciliation and reconstruction
The Botswana Teachers’ Union (BTU), one of EI’s national affiliates, is suing the Ministry of Education (MoE) for denying vacations to teachers’ when schools closed on 30 March. Shortly before schools closed, the MoE wrote to public school educators, notifying them to continue “with their normal duties” after pupils had...
Botswana: teachers sue government for denying vacations to teachers
The General Secretary of EI, Fred van Leeuwen, sent a letter of protest to the President of Benin, denouncing “the way in which the government of Benin has been disregarding trade unions and their members rights for some months now.” He also sent a letter of support directly from EI...
Benin: Violation of education unions’ and members’ rights must cease
Despite huge international mobilization against his proposed execution, the life of Abdolreza Ghanbari is still at risk. The Iranian authorities could proceed with his execution at any time.
Iran: Abdolreza Ghanbari still facing execution
The continuing conflict in Syria is taking a heavy toll on education, as thousands of Syrian families take their children out of school and flee across the border to seek refuge.
Syria: Conflict takes a heavy toll on education
Following Mahdi Abu Dheeb’s appeal hearing on 2 April, EI has learned that a decision about the release of the Bahraini Teachers’ Association (BTA) President has been postponed to 2 May.
Bahrain: Decision on Mahdi Abu Dheeb’s release deferred
Spanish unions have joined forces to support the country's largest ever general strike on 29 March. EI members, FETE-UGT, F.E.CC.OO. and FE-STES, are united in declaring that teachers will not stand by as the Government jeopardises basic workers’ rights and social dialogue through its latest labour reform legislation.
Spain: Workers’ rights under attack
After two previous postponements, the Bahraini Supreme Court of Appeal has scheduled a new hearing of the case of Bahraini Teachers’ Association leaders Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila Al Salman on 2 April. Both were arrested in April 2011 after a crackdown by authorities following pro-democracy demonstrations.
Bahrain: Teacher leaders still detained
Farah Abdillah Miguil, General Secretary of EI Djibouti affiliate SYNESED (Union of Secondary Teachers), was his union’s delegate to EI’s 6th World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa in July 2011. In this interview, he shares his thoughts as a union leader and champion of human and trade union rights...
Djibouti: Interview with a champion of the independence of teaching unions
Education International (EI) urgently calls on teachers and human rights activists worldwide to request the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to stay the execution of Prof. Abdolreza Ghanbari, a university lecturer, sentenced to death for “enmity towards God”.
EI launches Urgent Action Appeal to stop Iranian teacher’s execution
On 5 March, Iran’s Supreme Court repealed the death sentence for former U.S. Marine, Amir Mirza Hekmati.
Iran: EI welcomes decision to dismiss death sentence of Amir Mirza Hekmati
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
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
The study Teacher Self-efficacy, Voice and Leadership, commissioned by Education International Research Institute, comes at the time when teaching profession is increasingly facing pressures from society and policy makers and we need to reaffirm the role and potential of teachers in leading educational change.
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
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
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
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