Ei-iE

Peter Marshall / Demotix Images
Peter Marshall / Demotix Images

Trade union rights are human rights

Trade unionists are far too often subject to attacks by repressive governments. Every year, many are subjected to violence, arrest and imprisonment, torture and even murder. Trade union leaders in education are targeted by non-democratic governments who seek total control of education, and deny teachers and education support personnel their rights.

Even in democratic countries, many education workers are denied the right to join unions and/or engage in collective bargaining. Where bargaining exists, limits on its scope can be imposed. Moreover, teachers and education support personnel are denied the right to strike.

Education International also supports the right of students to organise and join the fight for more inclusive and democratic communities.

Working closely with our member organisations, other global unions and human rights networks, we use supervisory mechanisms at the national, regional and global levels to ensure rights and standards are respected and social dialogue is effective.

Solidarity actions among our global membership are a powerful tool to advance rights everywhere.

Our work in this area

  1. News 26 July 2010

    Brazil: Rio considers bullet-proofing favela schools

    Authorities in Rio de Janeiro have come under renewed pressure to bulletproof up to 200 schools in conflict-stricken areas, after an 11-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet during a maths lesson.

    Brazil: Rio considers bullet-proofing favela schools
  2. News 22 July 2010

    EI and Global Unions advocate for workplace action on AIDS

    EI and the Global Union Federations have been advocating for the active participation of workers in response to the AIDS pandemic as they participate in the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna.

    EI and Global Unions advocate for workplace action on AIDS
  3. News 29 June 2010

    Defending independent teacher unionism in Georgia

    An EI mission visited Georgia on 22-23 June 2010 with the aim of encouraging the Government to refrain from harassing EFSTUG, the EI member organization in Georgia, and to enter into collective bargaining as recommended by the ILO.

    Defending independent teacher unionism in Georgia
  4. News 23 June 2010

    Turkish trade unionists' trial continues

    Education International has sent a strongly worded statement of solidarity to teacher colleagues from Egitim Sen and KESK in Turkey after the third hearing of their court case took place on 22 June.

    Turkish trade unionists' trial continues
  5. News 16 June 2010

    Teachers demand reinstatement of democratic rule in Honduras

    Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales, the ousted president of Honduras, has thanked teachers across the world for their support, during his meeting with the EI Regional Committee for Latin America in the Dominican Republic.

    Teachers demand reinstatement of democratic rule in Honduras
  6. News 15 June 2010

    Georgian Government still failing to respect trade union rights

    Despite the Georgian authorities’ stated commitment to respect trade union rights and the adoption of a legislative framework promoting collective bargaining, evidence is emerging that anti union initiatives continue unabated.

    Georgian Government still failing to respect trade union rights
  7. News 9 June 2010

    Teacher activists review the EFAIDS Programme in Ghana

    Thirty leaders and master trainers converged at the Volta GNAT Conference Centre in Ho, Ghana, on 8 June, 2010, at the launch of a three-day workshop to evaluate the EFAIDS programme in Ghana.

    Teacher activists review the EFAIDS Programme in Ghana
  8. News 8 June 2010

    Spain: General strike against government cuts

    The emergency economic adjustment plan approved to reduce public debt has caused a national outcry. Public sector trade unions have mobilised their members and civil society to call for a general strike in opposition to the moves.

    Spain: General strike against government cuts
  9. News 8 June 2010

    Burundian teacher union investigates support to teachers living with HIV

    Burundian union STEB is eager to see a visible, national campaign to respond to HIV and AIDS. Specific to the education sector, the union believes that coordinated strategies could see teachers living with HIV “make their professional expertise and personal experience” contribute to overcoming the impact on education quality. Committed...

    Burundian teacher union investigates support to teachers living with HIV
  10. News 8 June 2010

    Sexual health education and soccer in St Lucia

    Ensuring that school-children in St Lucia get consistent and age-appropriate information on HIV and AIDS is a key priority of the St Lucia Teachers’ Union (SLTU).

    Sexual health education and soccer in St Lucia
  11. 4 June 2010

    Iran and Women’s Rights

    Iranian teachers are speaking out against human and trade union rights violations that result in them being imprisoned and killed for peaceful activism. Four teachers are reported to have been jailed in recent months, while 35-year-old teacher, Farzad Kamangar, is reported to have been executed in secret despite the legal...

    Iran and Women’s Rights
  12. 4 June 2010

    Francophone conference on HIV/AIDS in Casablanca

    More than one thousand participants from 40 different countries attended the fifth Francophone Conference on HIV/AIDS which took place in Casablanca, Morocco, from 28-31 March.

    Francophone conference on HIV/AIDS in Casablanca
  13. 3 June 2010

    Teachers murdered in Colombia: Twenty years of impunity

    Some men wearing masks came into the classroom and shot him, right in the middle of our lesson. They didn’t give him a chance to say anything. One of the masked men lifted our teacher’s dead body by the back of his shirt and spoke to us: ‘This man had...

    Teachers murdered in Colombia: Twenty years of impunity
  14. News 1 June 2010

    EI urges inquiry into Gaza aid ship attack

    EI has expressed shock and dismay at reports that nine people were killed during the Israeli military’s raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound ships carrying essential humanitarian aid.

    EI urges inquiry into Gaza aid ship attack
  15. News 1 June 2010

    South Korea: Arbitrary dismissal of 183 teachers forces hunger strike

    EI has learned that Jeong Jin-Hoo, president of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), has begun a hunger strike in protest at the dismissal of 183 teachers for allegedly ‘joining’ an opposition political party.

    South Korea: Arbitrary dismissal of 183 teachers forces hunger strike