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.
Indonesian teachers were praised for providing quality education during the COVID-19 crisis at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Persatuan Guru Republik Indonesia (PGRI) and of the 2020 National Teacher’s Day.
Indonesia: Education union celebrate 75th anniversary and educators’ unwavering commitment in the face of tough challenges
Within the framework of a profoundly sexist culture, the phenomenon of gender-based violence is linked to violence against women, children and adolescents, particularly those from the poorest sectors of society and those belonging to indigenous communities. Paraguay has one of the highest rates of child sexual abuse in South America:...
#16dayscampaign | "Gender-Based Violence in Paraguay: The Other Pandemic", by Paola Giménez (OTEP AUTÉNTICA).
November 30 was a Global Day of Action on the Philippines. The global trade union movement showed its solidarity with trade unionists and other activists who struggle for human rights and democracy in a country where both are in danger since the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.
Philippines: Global Day of Action
Education International has again expressed its deepest concerns about the death sentence against Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish medical doctor, lecturer and researcher in emergency medicine. According to Amnesty International, he has been transferred to solitary confinement in Evin prison and told by the authorities that his execution is imminent.
Iran: Halt the Execution of Iranian Academic Ahmadreza Djalali
Trade union and other leaders and activists from the Philippines recounted stories of repression in the Philippines in a Council of Global Unions Webinar on the Quest for Justice held on 23 November 2020. Vivid accounts were given of killings, threats and intimidation, red-tagging, and police abuses across private and...
The Philippines: Unionism Is not Terrorism
Assaults on human and trade union rights are growing in the Philippines. As part of its ongoing solidarity campaign, the Council of Global Unions (CGU), has organised a webinar on Monday, 23 November, where trade union and human rights activists will explain the latest moves of the Duterte government and...
The Philippines: Webinar on Workers’ Quest for Justice
The country is the third in the world to adopt ILO Convention 190 against violence and harassment in the world of work.
Argentina Plays a Leading Role in Condemning Harassment and Violence in the Workplace
In June 2019, the ILO adopted Convention 190 concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. Unions have long called for an instrument of this nature. We welcome the adoption of this Convention.
“What about Convention No. 190 in Tunisia? Eliminating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work”, by Emna Aouadi.
Renewed death threats against education union leaders in Colombia have prompted a global support and solidarity campaign in protest against the continued repression and deaths, which now number more than 6,000.
Colombia: Campaign Launched to Combat Death Threats Against Trade Unionists
The 56th meeting of the Education International’s Executive Board, meeting virtually on 27 October, adopted a resolution in support of teaching about freedom of expression, free discussion, and critical thinking, all of which equip students to be active citizens. The resolution was adopted following the atrocious murder of French history...
Executive Board adopts resolution on the role of education in stimulating critical thinking and freedom of expression and promoting democracy
Education International condemns the banning of a Jordanian Teachers’ Association (JTA) public press conference scheduled for 26 October. The ban was imposed by Jordan’s authorities, with security forces delivering an order from the Governor of Amman to prohibit the union’s press conference. The JTA press conference was called to discuss...
Jordan: Banned union press conference the latest crackdown by government on teachers’ rights
An extraordinary session of the UNESCO Global Education Meeting (GEM) took place today, 22 October. It was preceded by a technical meeting on the 20th devoted to policy preparation. The meeting focused on global priorities for recovery in education and accelerated action in order to make progress on achieving SDG...
Extraordinary Global Education Meeting reaffirms commitments to SDG 4 and calls for accelerated funding and global solidarity
Members of the Education and Solidarity Network (ESN), including healthcare mutuals, enterprises operating in the social and solidarity economy (SSE), teaching unions and other civil society organisations have found themselves at the centre of the health and education crisis and have been the first to respond to it on the...
“Education, health and solidarity: pandemic memories", by Matthias Savignac.
Unions and governments have been in conflict since the dawn of time. The mere existence of unions as a force to defend workers’ rights where governments fail to do so in and of itself leads to this conflictual relationship. In Africa, unions have rarely been consulted during the COVID-19 crisis...
“Africa: Collaboration between Unions and Governments for a Better Future in Education”, by Cherine Sabry.
A National Teachers’ Association (NTA) survey in Taiwan has revealed that 92 per cent of secondary school teachers suffered from work overload, requiring government support.
Taiwan: Nine out of 10 teachers overworked implementing new curriculum
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) find themselves in confrontation with the government over teachers’ salaries and ‘incapacitation’, as teachers remain out of the classroom. They have urged the Government to improve its financial offer to teachers in order to get them to...
Zimbabwe: Government must pay teachers decent salaries for them to resume work
In gatherings all over France, tribute was paid to Samuel Paty, 47, a history, and geography teacher who was the victim of a terrorist attack near his school, Conflans-Sainte-Honorine in the Paris suburbs. Paty was decapitated following an Internet campaign against the use in his class of a caricature of...
France: French unions lead mourning of assassinated teacher Samuel Paty
Education is taking a step backwards in Germany, according to Education International’s affiliates, the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft (GEW) and the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE). The unions were reacting to resolutions agreed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK, German acronym).
Germany: Education unions critical of KMK’s backward steps and patchwork approach