Ei-iE

  1. Fighting the commercialisation of education 8 June 2012

    Rising opposition to ACTA in Europe

    The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is facing a growing backlash in Europe. On 31 May, all three committees of the European Parliament advising the International Trade Committee recommended rejecting the deal.

    Rising opposition to ACTA in Europe
  2. Fighting the commercialisation of education 8 June 2012

    New global services talks launched

    A group of countries billing themselves as the “Really Good Friends of Services” have agreed to start negotiations on an ambitious new global free trade agreement covering all service sectors. Meeting in Geneva at the end of May, the group agreed in principle to begin talks on a new International...

    New global services talks launched
  3. Fighting the commercialisation of education 27 January 2012

    After nearly two decades of negotiations, Russia was formally welcomed into the WTO fold at the Ministerial Conference in December.

    In joining the WTO, Russia had to modify nearly 300 pieces of legislation to conform with international trade rules, and agreed to lower tariffs across a number of industrial sectors and to reduce agricultural subsidies on dairy products and cereals.

    After nearly two decades of negotiations, Russia was formally welcomed into the WTO fold at the Ministerial Conference in December.
  4. Fighting the commercialisation of education 27 January 2012

    Lamy and UN expert squabble over food security

    A public spate broke out between WTO Director General Pascal Lamy and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier de Schutter, during the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference in December.

    Lamy and UN expert squabble over food security
  5. Fighting the commercialisation of education 20 January 2012

    WTO Ministerial reveals widening gap between rich and poor

    The 8th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference concluded on December 17th after 3 days of high level meetings exposed deepening divisions between developed and developing nations.

    WTO Ministerial reveals widening gap between rich and poor
  6. Fighting the commercialisation of education 10 January 2012

    UK: education unions oppose Government’s forced academy programme

    EI’s UK affiliates, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), have deplored the fact that the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, is pushing ahead with plans to have schools taken over by outside sponsors and removed from the control of the...

    UK: education unions oppose Government’s forced academy programme
  7. Fighting the commercialisation of education 19 December 2011

    EI brings the voice of teachers at the WTO Ministerial Conference

    The 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 15-17 December. EI joined the international trade union movement in warning of growing social unrest, rising inequality, and increased hardship if trade liberalisation continues in its current form.

    EI brings the voice of teachers at the WTO Ministerial Conference
  8. Fighting the commercialisation of education 27 September 2011

    International financial summit backs unions’ priorities

    The final communiqué of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Financial Committee has taken heed of warnings from Global Unions to acknowledge that ‘the global economy has entered a dangerous phase’ and support calls for ‘bold action from members and the IMF’.

    International financial summit backs unions’ priorities
  9. Fighting the commercialisation of education 16 September 2011

    Ahead of Ministerial Conference, WTO talks remain deadlocked

    With a biannual meeting of the world’s trade ministers set for December in Geneva, negotiations to liberalise global trade show little sign of progress.

    Ahead of Ministerial Conference, WTO talks remain deadlocked
  10. Fighting the commercialisation of education 16 September 2011

    Report warns on public services in Canada-EU trade talks

    A new report commissioned for the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour says the European Union is weakening protections for public services like education in current trade negotiations with Canada.

    Report warns on public services in Canada-EU trade talks
  11. Fighting the commercialisation of education 16 September 2011

    UNCTAD criticizes austerity measures

    In its annual trade report released in September, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development sharply criticised those developed countries that have adopted austerity measures.

    UNCTAD criticizes austerity measures
  12. Fighting the commercialisation of education 12 September 2011

    Global Unions urge the IMF and World Bank to prioritise employment

    EI has endorsed the Global Unions statement for the 2011 annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, to be held in Washington, USA, from 25-26 September.

    Global Unions urge the IMF and World Bank to prioritise employment
  13. Fighting the commercialisation of education 5 July 2011

    Chile: Thousands march to demand investment in education

    Police attacked the demonstrators with tear gas and water cannon. The students are demanding an increase in the proportion of GDP which is spent on education from four per cent to seven per cent. The demonstrators are also calling for the state to take back control of public schools from...

    Chile: Thousands march to demand investment in education
  14. Fighting the commercialisation of education 16 June 2011

    USA: Education union vows to back Obama to defend education

    With the United States presidential elections a little over a year away, EI’s largest U.S. affiliate, the National Education Association (NEA), has set out proposals for a strategy to invest $60 million into a campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama.

    USA: Education union vows to back Obama to defend education
  15. Fighting the commercialisation of education 28 April 2011

    EI insists on education services being excluded from trade agreements

    Teacher unionists are deeply involved in the make or break talks being held this week in Geneva, Switzerland, in what many see as the last attempt to rescue the troubled Doha Round of international trade negotiations.

    EI insists on education services being excluded from trade agreements
  16. Fighting the commercialisation of education 25 March 2011

    G20 fails to address fundamentals – including investment in education

    The G20 Summit held in Seoul, Korea, on 11-12 November was marked by growing tensions between the world’s two biggest economies – the United States and China – and a failure to address fundamental issues required for sustainable growth and prosperity – including investment in education.

    G20 fails to address fundamentals – including investment in education
  17. Fighting the commercialisation of education 10 March 2011

    WTO Talks Falter in Face of New Deadline

    Talks aimed at liberalizing the global trade in goods, agricultural products and services are once again in trouble as negotiators have been unable to bridge their differences despite an intensive week-long push to reach a solution.

    WTO Talks Falter in Face of New Deadline