Ei-iE

Union growth

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.

Our work in this area

  1. News 16 October 2020

    Taiwan: Education union’s pressure prompts a private educational provider to apologise for harassment

    The National Teachers’ Association (NTA) in Taiwan publicly denounced the Kang Hsuan Educational Publishing Group (KH Group) for its unlawful practices concerning public health as well as labour issues. The KH Group is one of the largest private educational corporations in Taiwan.

    Taiwan: Education union’s pressure prompts a private educational provider to apologise for harassment
  2. Statements 11 October 2020

    Statement | International Coming Out Day

    It’s International Coming Out Day! In celebration, the Council of Global Unions is releasing our LGBTI website to share the work of Global Unions promoting LGBTI rights at work at national, regional and international levels.

    Statement | International Coming Out Day
  3. News 7 October 2020

    Cameroon: Union development during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

    A teacher union operating in the private sector has decided to take a series of actions to ensure decent working and living conditions for teachers and also to strengthen its capacities and ensure that teachers’ voices are really heard by the public authorities.

    Cameroon: Union development during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
  4. News 6 October 2020

    Haiti: Solidarity of the global teacher trade union movement against government harassment of educators

    Education International and its member organisations are monitoring the situation for teacher trade unionists fighting for free, quality public education for all in Haiti. In particular, they are putting pressure on the government to respect the human and trade union rights of educators

    Haiti: Solidarity of the global teacher trade union movement against government harassment of educators
  5. Worlds of Education 29 September 2020

    “The Movement Against Pension Reform in France: Paradoxes of Teacher Militancy” by Laurent Frajerman.

    Laurent Frajerman

    Teachers in France, like in many countries, are simultaneously leading a social movement and facing the prospect of a lowering of their professional status, which would become more acute as a result of the pension reform undertaken by the French government in 2019. But their ‘uber-militancy’ (the use of strikes...

    “The Movement Against Pension Reform in France: Paradoxes of Teacher Militancy” by Laurent Frajerman.
  6. News 22 September 2020

    Canada: The Federation of Childcare Workers of Quebec calls an indefinite general strike

    The 10,000 home daycare workers affiliated to the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) began an indefinite general strike on 21 September. They have been holding rotating strikes in the regions of Quebec since 1 September and this increases the pressure.

    Canada: The Federation of Childcare Workers of Quebec calls an indefinite general strike
  7. News 18 September 2020

    Philippines: International solidarity with workers and unionists facing tyranny

    Education International has joined other Global Unions in a webinar backing Filipino workers and trade unionists who fight to defend from governmental siege rights and democracy. The discussion was organised by the Council of Global Unions (CGU). The CGU groups Global Union Federations like EI with the International Trade Union...

    Philippines: International solidarity with workers and unionists facing tyranny
  8. News 16 September 2020

    US: AFT and RFK Human Rights launch human rights and democracy programme

    The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), working with RFK Human Rights will launch a programme to share lesson plans on human rights and democracy developed by classroom teachers at a webinar on 17 September. The webinar, “Defenders of Human Rights and Democracy in Your Community” will feature AFT President Randi...

    US: AFT and RFK Human Rights launch human rights and democracy programme
  9. News 3 September 2020

    Korea: Supreme Court annuls decision to delegalise union

    The decision to delegalise the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) has been annulled by the Supreme Court of Korea. The government had ordered the delegalisation of the organisation in 2013.

    Korea: Supreme Court annuls decision to delegalise union
  10. News 31 August 2020

    Belarus: Condemnation of violence against peaceful protesters

    Education International’s European office, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), strongly denounces the violence used by the Belarussian authorities towards the peaceful protesters across the country.

    Belarus: Condemnation of violence against peaceful protesters
  11. News 18 August 2020

    Philippines: Global education union movement calls for justice for murdered colleague

    Education International is outraged by the killing of education unionist Zara Alvarez in the Philippines. The global union federation support its national affiliate, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT), in its demands for justice for the murdered human rights activist.

    Philippines: Global education union movement calls for justice for murdered colleague
  12. News 18 August 2020

    Kenya Parliament directs Teachers’ Service Commission to address KNUT concerns

    After a long and devastating conflict in which trade union rights were violated and the existence of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) was threatened, the Education Committee of the Parliament of Kenya has proposed a series of steps to resolve the dispute. The proposal is aimed at reversing...

    Kenya Parliament directs Teachers’ Service Commission to address KNUT concerns