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.
I am a primary school teacher in Berlin. In the summer of 2019, I participated in a German-Israeli union seminar for teachers in Tel Aviv that was organized by the German union “Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW)” and the Israeli teachers union “Histadrut ha Morim”. In this seminar, we discussed...
“Susi”- a graphic novel about a Jewish girl in disguise - and how to work with the book in primary schools, by Silvia Stieneker (GEW, Germany).
Education International member organisations from 17 countries in Europe, North America, Latin America and Africa are in Poland this week for the official ceremony marking 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The ceremony will be followed by a conference on Holocaust education organised by unions from...
Holocaust remembrance: Education unions come together for Auschwitz memorial ceremony and Holocaust education conference
The International Remembrance Day of the Holocaust is commemorated on January 27th. It is a good opportunity to reflect on a unique aspect of Learning about that period. I'll start with a short story. My family has lived for many generations in Romania. A few years ago, before my grandmother...
“The forgotten voices of the Holocaust”, by Yossi Michal.
Education unions have condemned the "parental PIN" that the Spanish ultra-right wing is promoting in a bid to undermine equality and diversity education in schools.
Spain: Far Right seeks to ban educational content
Education unions call for a clarification of the circumstances that led to the crash of Ukraine International Flight 752 outside Tehran, which claimed 176 victims, including professors and students.
Iran: unions demand transparent investigation into plane crash
Today, Human Rights Day, Education International, its affiliates and the global trade union movement stand with trade unionists and all those who defend human rights in the Philippines.
The global trade union movement puts the Philippine government on notice: hands off human and trade union rights defenders!
Teachers and education in the Philippines are under siege. The Duterte government’s worsening attacks on all forms of dissent, disguised as a ‘whole-of-nation approach’ purportedly to end local communist insurgency, is taking its toll on the sector that is universally mandated to espouse and uphold social justice, human rights and...
“Philippines: On Persecuting Teachers and Weaponizing Education”, by Raymond D. Basilio.
On 10 December, Human Rights Day, the global trade union movement is coming together to stand with trade unionists and all those who defend human rights in the Philippines. Join us!
10 December | Solidarity with human and trade union rights defenders in the Philippines
On 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – global trade unions join forces and call on governments to ratify ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 on violence and harassment in the world of work without delay.
#RatifyC190: mobilising for a world of work free from violence and harassment
This UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, trade unions are calling on governments to act swiftly to ratify ILO Convention 190.
Statement | It’s time to #RatifyC190
Education International’s Executive Board has condemned the situation in Bolivia, stating that it “firmly and unanimously condemns on behalf of its 32 million members the coup d'état that took place last 11 November”.
Bolivia: global education union leaders firmly condemn the coup d’état
During its 55th meeting in Brussels on November 19-21, the Executive Board of Education International (EI) adopted a resolution condemning the violence against peaceful protestors in Chile and demanding respect for students, teachers and civil society.
Chile: educators demand an end to the violence
On 21 November, trade unions and social organisations called for a major mobilisation in defence of life, peace, public education and the rights of teachers and the Colombian people.
Colombia: National Strike for Life and Peace Unites Society
In the face of the on-going violence against protesters and democracy defenders in Hong Kong, Education International (EI) and its members are mobilising to show support for those who defend the values of democracy, justice and liberties.
Hong Kong: Educators stand with democracy defenders
This blog post presents two major critiques of the SABER-Teachers domain: The World Bank’s inconsistent use of empirical evidence in order to promote policies that reflect its ideological biases related to teachers and the teaching profession, and the way the SABER-Teachers domain framework paper serves to de-professionalize teachers.
#SABERexposed "Teachers in the World Bank's SABER", by Melanie Baker Robbins.
The new web application launched by the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) gives an overview of the principles and standards for freedom of association and explains ILO procedures and bodies that can help to secure and promote freedom of association across the world.
How to secure and promote freedom of association? New ILO web application provides a guide for workers
On 24 October, two EI affiliates in Zimbabwe, the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) submitted a petition to Parliament, calling on the government to grant full collective bargaining rights to public sector workers.
Zimbabwe: Time’s up- no more delays! Teachers’ unions submit petition on collective bargaining rights to Parliament
The Iraqi Teachers’ Union called for a four-day strike starting on 28 October in solidarity with demonstrators urging public authorities to provide jobs, quality public services and to put an end to a political system that has failed them.
Iraq: educators join nationwide demonstration