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.
Education International and its member organisations are monitoring the situation for teacher trade unionists fighting for free, quality public education for all in Haiti. In particular, they are putting pressure on the government to respect the human and trade union rights of educators
Haiti: Solidarity of the global teacher trade union movement against government harassment of educators
Teachers in France, like in many countries, are simultaneously leading a social movement and facing the prospect of a lowering of their professional status, which would become more acute as a result of the pension reform undertaken by the French government in 2019. But their ‘uber-militancy’ (the use of strikes...
“The Movement Against Pension Reform in France: Paradoxes of Teacher Militancy” by Laurent Frajerman.
The 10,000 home daycare workers affiliated to the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) began an indefinite general strike on 21 September. They have been holding rotating strikes in the regions of Quebec since 1 September and this increases the pressure.
Canada: The Federation of Childcare Workers of Quebec calls an indefinite general strike
Education International has joined other Global Unions in a webinar backing Filipino workers and trade unionists who fight to defend from governmental siege rights and democracy. The discussion was organised by the Council of Global Unions (CGU). The CGU groups Global Union Federations like EI with the International Trade Union...
Philippines: International solidarity with workers and unionists facing tyranny
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), working with RFK Human Rights will launch a programme to share lesson plans on human rights and democracy developed by classroom teachers at a webinar on 17 September. The webinar, “Defenders of Human Rights and Democracy in Your Community” will feature AFT President Randi...
US: AFT and RFK Human Rights launch human rights and democracy programme
On 15 September, the International Day of Democracy, Education International is joining the UN, civil society organisations and others to address the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
International Day of Democracy: Respect and protection of rights in times of COVID-19
The decision to delegalise the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) has been annulled by the Supreme Court of Korea. The government had ordered the delegalisation of the organisation in 2013.
Korea: Supreme Court annuls decision to delegalise union
Filipino academics, supported by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and a large education coalition, made a stand against the Duterte regime’s attacks on academic freedom and democracy.
Philippines: Academics take judicial action to halt threats and harassment
Education International’s European office, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), strongly denounces the violence used by the Belarussian authorities towards the peaceful protesters across the country.
Belarus: Condemnation of violence against peaceful protesters
Education International has stepped up its efforts to secure the release of two jailed Cambodian union leaders.
Cambodia: Join the campaign to free jailed union leaders
The Fédération des syndicats de l'Éducation nationale (FESEN) has urged Togolese education ministers to tackle the issue of insecurity affecting teachers in the private sector so that “their ordeal can come to an end.”
Togo: Education union calls for improvements to living and working conditions of private-sector teachers
Education International welcomes the release of the detained education union leaders in Jordan, after a concerted global campaign highlighting their situation.
Jordan: Teacher unionists released, but pressure on government continues
Education International is outraged by the killing of education unionist Zara Alvarez in the Philippines. The global union federation support its national affiliate, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT), in its demands for justice for the murdered human rights activist.
Philippines: Global education union movement calls for justice for murdered colleague
After a long and devastating conflict in which trade union rights were violated and the existence of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) was threatened, the Education Committee of the Parliament of Kenya has proposed a series of steps to resolve the dispute. The proposal is aimed at reversing...
Kenya Parliament directs Teachers’ Service Commission to address KNUT concerns
Education International has expressed deep concern at the sudden decision by Haitian authorities to arbitrarily transfer a number of union leaders and activists, including several from the education sector.
Haiti: Education International condemns arbitrary transfers of education trade union leaders
The Jordanian Teachers’ Association has been targeted by a news blackout, the latest in a series of repressive measures against the union.
Jordan: Blackout of coverage of Jordanian Teachers’ Association
Education International has launched an online petition in support of the imprisoned leaders of the Jordanian Teachers’ Association (JTA) and to guarantee the exercise of the fundamental rights of teachers and education workers in Jordan.
Jordan: Take action for the immediate release of education union leaders
After the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut, Education International has expressed solidarity with the Lebanese capital’s inhabitants, including educators and students.
Lebanon: International solidarity as education sector reels from impact of explosion