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.
Mr/Madam President, distinguished delegates
Statement by Bob Harris, Senior Consultant (on behalf of Fred van Leeuwen, EI General Secretary) at the International Labour Conference 12 June 2007
Education International has written again to Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, following the re-arrest of Ethiopian Teachers' Association members Antene Getnet and Meqcha Mengistu along with another teacher from the south.
Ethiopia: Harassment continues - ETA members re-arrested
Samual Morales, former teacher and regional president of the Colombian Trade Union Confederation (CUT), has been released after spending 3 years in prison.
Colombia: Teacher trade unionist released after 3 years imprisonment
EI joins the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) in mourning the death of founder member and national treasurer MacDonald Mangauzani on 27 May. Reports suggest that he succumbed to internal injuries sustained from brutal torture while in police custody last February.
Zimbabwe: EI mourns death of tortured PTUZ founder
Of the seven teachers arrested and taken to Evin prison during a protest on 8 May, five have been released after posting bail of $30,000 each.
Iran: Five Teachers detained on 8 May released
A joint statement was issued on 1 May by all Cambodian trade unions, including EI member organisation the Cambodia Independent Teachers' Association (CITA), calling for investigation into the murder of trade union leaders.
Cambodia: Unions Call for Justice for Murdered Unionists
Earlier this year we reported on the detention of three elected officers of the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA), including Meqcha Mengistu, a member of the Committee for the implementation of the EFAIDS Programme. The three men were finally released on 22 March after three months of imprisonment and torture and...
ETA/Ethiopia Programme Coordinator Freed
The Chairperson of EI member organisation, the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA), has finally been released from police custody, after the court cleared him of the charges brought against him.
Ethiopia: teacher leader finally released
EI sent a strong message to the Greek Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs on 4 April, condemning the use of violence by the police against teacher unionists and students during their demonstration on 8 March.
Greece: EI condemns use of violence against teachers and students
The three elected officers of the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA) detained since December 2006 have finally been released on 22 March. Tilahun Ayalew, Meqcha Mengistu and Antenech Getenet were detained and tortured by the police for over three months. They were freed from custody when they last appeared in court...
Urgent Action Appeal: Detained Ethiopian Teachers Finally Released!
Representatives from EI, the Southern African Teacher Organisation (SATO) and the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (SATCC) are currently in Botswana to show solidarity with the President of the Botswana Teachers' Union (BTU), Japhta Radibe.
Botswana: International trade union delegation defends Radibe's case
EI has written to the President of Guatemala on 21 March supporting the demands of its member organisation, the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación de Guatemala (STEG).
Guatemala: Stop repression, start negotiation, demands EI
In Geneva, the Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings (STM) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body approved on 19 March a new approach to activities that takes ILO's agenda out into the workplace.
ILO Committee backs New Approach to Key Outreach Activities
EI was shocked by the use of force at a church-led prayer rally in Harare last Sunday which resulted in one death and many casualties, including women and children.
Zimbabwe: EI condemns the beating of opposition leaders
EI’s mission to help its affiliate the East Timor Teacher Union (ETTU) resume its activities has been postponed due to civil unrest.
EI Mission to East Timor postponed due to instability in the country
Arsonists have attacked and destroyed the offices of the Sakarya branch of EI member organisation Egitim-Sen. Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident.
Turkey: Egitim-Sen offices attacked
EI affiliate the Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA) has instructed its members to join a general strike.
Zimbabwe: Teachers join national protest as inflation reaches 1600%
EI Vice President Abdulwaheed Omar has been elected President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on 16 February 2007.
Nigeria: EI Vice President elected President of the Nigerian Labour Congress