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 24 April 2008

    Unions Putting Pen to Paper for HIV/AIDS

    During the upcoming International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers on 28th April, the Global Unions AIDS Programme calls for trade unions worldwide to lobby the G8 countries for sustained action on HIV/AIDS.

    Unions Putting Pen to Paper for HIV/AIDS
  2. News 11 April 2008

    Colombia: more teachers murdered

    Educators around the world are condemning the latest brutal assassinations of teacher trade unionists in Colombia. On 1 April, Emerson Ivan Herrera Ruales and Luz Mariela Diaz Lopez lost their lives at the hands of unknown gunmen who shot them as they made their way to work in the morning.

    Colombia: more teachers murdered
  3. News 11 April 2008

    EI condemns post-election violence against teachers in Zimbabwe

    Education International has received chilling reports about political retribution against teachers in Zimbabwe. This comes in the aftermath of general elections held on 30 March.

    EI condemns post-election violence against teachers in Zimbabwe
  4. News 9 April 2008

    Participate in ILO drafting Recommendation on HIV/AIDS in the World of Work

    The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is formulating a new international labour standard on HIV/AIDS. The draft document has been prepared and is available to read in seven languages on the ILO-AIDS website.

    Participate in ILO drafting Recommendation on HIV/AIDS in the World of Work
  5. News 9 April 2008

    Summaries on HIV/AIDS and Education from IATT

    The UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on Education of which Education International (EI) is a member have produced four Advocacy Briefing Notes.

    Summaries on HIV/AIDS and Education from IATT
  6. News 9 April 2008

    EFAIDS Training of Trainers in Dakar, Senegal

    A three day training workshop in Dakar, Senegal from 4th – 6th February 2008 brought together national coordinators of the EFAIDS programmes in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda.

    EFAIDS Training of Trainers in Dakar, Senegal
  7. News 9 April 2008

    EFAIDS Latin American regional meeting, Tegucigalpa

    The annual EFAIDS Programme meeting for Latin America took place from 11-13 February 2008 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Activities and progress in 2007 were reviewed whilst programme objectives for 2008 were agreed.

    EFAIDS Latin American regional meeting, Tegucigalpa
  8. News 9 April 2008

    Namibia: education spending tops the budget while NANTU continues to raise HIV/AIDS awareness

    A spokesman for EI affiliate, Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), has welcomed the decision of the Namibian government to prioritise education in its recent budget allocations. Meanwhile, NANTU is continuing to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS through the distribution of a poster and a leaflet to inform their members...

    Namibia: education spending tops the budget while NANTU continues to raise HIV/AIDS awareness
  9. News 20 March 2008

    Argentina: EI welcomes new law on free transport for HIV patients

    EI welcomes the recent law passed by the Buenos Aires authorities which will guarantee free transport for HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, and long-term cancer sufferers in the Argentine capital.

    Argentina: EI welcomes new law on free transport for HIV patients
  10. 13 March 2008

    Iran: Crackdown on activists

    Iran’s relentless intimidation and harassment of teachers shows no sign of abating. Indeed, the worsening situation has caused human rights defenders to speak out about a crackdown by the government of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    Iran: Crackdown on activists
  11. 13 March 2008

    India: The need for sex education in schools

    Since the first case was detected in the 1980s, AIDS has become one of the largest killers in the world. Every day, some 7,200 young people are contracting HIV in the world. In India, 15% of HIV/AIDS patients are children under 15 years of age. At a time when HIV...

    India: The need for sex education in schools
  12. News 6 March 2008

    North-American, Australian, South-Korean, UK and Caribbean teachers' chorus of opposition to video game condoning bullying in school

    A coalition of eight teacher organizations representing over 4-million teachers in North America, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and the Caribbean has joined in an unprecedented effort to condemn bullying and cyberbullying in all its forms. The outcry by teacher organizations is sparked by the pending release of "Bully...

    North-American, Australian, South-Korean, UK and Caribbean teachers' chorus of opposition to video game condoning bullying in school
  13. News 5 March 2008

    Iran: EI joins the Global Action Day on 6 March 2008

    EI joins the International Transport Federation and other Global Union Federations in a Global Action Day in solidarity with Iranian workers and teachers on 6 March 2008.

    Iran: EI joins the Global Action Day on 6 March 2008
  14. News 22 February 2008

    Zimbabwe: EI condemns police beatings of teacher unionists

    Nine members of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) were abducted on 19 February for distributing leaflets about the country's education crisis.

    Zimbabwe: EI condemns police beatings of teacher unionists
  15. News 19 February 2008

    Philippines: demonstration against privatization of education ends with police brutality

    A peaceful demonstration organized by teachers and students defending quality public education in the Philippines was violently dispersed by law enforcement officers last January 31. As a result of police brutality, 23 demonstrators were injured. Other 6 demonstrators were arbitrarily arrested.

    Philippines: demonstration against privatization of education ends with police brutality