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 has written a letter of support to French affiliates concerning the First Employment Contract (CPE) job law.
EI letter of support to French affiliates
EI affiliate the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has welcomed the formal establishment of the Teaching Council as the professional body for Ireland's teachers.
Republic of Ireland: ASTI Welcomes Establishment of Teaching Council
Raymond Majongwe, General Secretary of the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), was detained for 8 hours on 24 March for "driving" a group of four Dutch trade unionists visiting the country. Police in the Mabvuku suburb of Harare said "Majongwe’s visitors were taking pictures of police activities at a...
Zimbabwe: Further harassment of trade union leader
EI affiliates the NASUWT, NUT and AUT are supporting local government employee unions in their one day strike today; part of the campaign to demand fair treatment over pension rights in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
UK: Teacher unions show solidarity with 1m striking local government workers
SONK, EI’s Macedonian affiliate, is celebrating the legalisation of a new trade union centre of which it was a founding member.
Macedonia: EI affiliate win legal battle
Various trade unions showed support for EI affiliate the Malta Union of Teachers' (MUT) directive for a one-hour strike in state schools today.
Malta: Trade Unions in Solidarity with Teachers
After signing an agreement with EI affiliate SONK for a 12-percent salary increase for teachers in the next 12 months, the Macedonian government now questions the legitimacy of the teacher union.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: legitimacy of EI affiliate questioned
Members of EI affiliate the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) are being supported by parents in their protest over security concerns at schools.
Trinidad & Tobago: Security concerns lead to protests
EI's protest letter dated 22 Feb to the Minister of Education in support of its Algerian affiliates, the "Union nationale des travailleurs de l’éducation et de la formation" (UNPEF) and the "Syndicat autonome des travailleurs de l’éducation et de la formation" (SATEF) seems to bear fruit.
Algeria: re-establishment of social partnership
EI is appalled that the two strike actions within an interval of one month by both primary and secondary school teachers did not convince the Algerian government to enter into negotiations with the Inter-Union Coordination of National Education (CITE), to which EI affiliates the "Union nationale des travailleurs de l’éducation...
Algeria: government threatens to dissolve teacher union
EI is working with partner Global Union Federations, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), as well as Amnesty International for the release of Kassahun Kebede, chairperson of the Addis Ababa branch of EI affiliate, the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA).
Ethiopia: international collaboration for the release of teacher unionist
Due to the international solidarity actions from EI affiliates around the world, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) was finally released on bail. Upon his release, he and other members of CITA thank colleagues around the world for their support and assistance.
Cambodia: CITA thanks EI affiliates for their international solidarity
Negotiations are set to begin for the first ever industrial agreement between the government and EI affiliate the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT).
Bahamas: Teachers and Government to negotiate industrial agreement
EI has received information from its members in Nepal that all teachers' union leaders have been released from detention - the last one being released on Feb 16. EI affiliates in Nepal - NTA, NNTA and TUN - thank all EI member organisations for their support. It is obvious that...
Nepal: All teachers' union leaders have been released but situation remains volatile
Education International has written to Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of the Republic of Georgia, and Alexander Lomaia the minister of education & science, in support of affiliate the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia.
Georgia: EI’s letter of protest to the President and Minister of Education & Science
The Global Union Federations are supporting the international day of action in support of Iranian unionists following the continuing repression against the Trade Union of the Greater Teheran United Bus Company (Sherkate-Vahed).
Iran: Union day of action
EI and other trade union bodies are monitoring the situation in Nepal closely, as hundreds of pro-democracy activists are still detained across the country.
EI monitors the situation in Nepal
Former general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), and member of EI’s European Committee, Peter Smith, has died at the age of 65.
UK: Peter Smith, former ATL general secretary dies