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 23 September 2008

    EFAIDS Programme launched in Nepal

    The recent political change in Nepal coincided with the incorporation of the Nepalese teacher unions into the EI EFAIDS Programme. Working in partnership, the Nepal National Teachers’ Association (NNTA) and the Nepal Teachers’ Association (NTA) plan to carry out joint activities and training under the Nepal EI EFAIDS Programme.

    EFAIDS Programme launched in Nepal
  2. News 23 September 2008

    EFAIDS looks ahead to 2009

    The EI EFAIDS Evaluation and Planning Workshop for EI staff and partners was held in early September and provided an opportunity to review the Programme which has expanded steadily since 2006 and is now successfully implemented in almost fifty countries across four regions.

    EFAIDS looks ahead to 2009
  3. News 23 September 2008

    Ugandan unions partnership strengthens EFAIDS Programme

    The recent incorporation of the National Union of Education Institutes (NUEI) to the EFAIDS Programme in Uganda reaches out to non-teaching staff in schools. The Uganda National Teachers Union, working on the Programme since 2006, is confident that the partnership will benefit EFAIDS work.

    Ugandan unions partnership strengthens EFAIDS Programme
  4. News 23 September 2008

    Spend ‘One Hour on AIDS’ on World AIDS Day

    World AIDS Day on 1 December is an opportunity to emphasise education for HIV prevention and combat stigma on AIDS with colleagues and students. Building on the success of last year, the EI EFAIDS Programme has prepared a ‘One Hour on AIDS’ activity kit which teachers around the world can...

    Spend ‘One Hour on AIDS’ on World AIDS Day
  5. News 23 September 2008

    Translating Talk into Action – International XVII AIDS Conference, Mexico

    The XVII International AIDS Conference, with 25,000 participants, brought together representatives from many sectors working on HIV/AIDS issues. For a few days AIDS was the focus of a busy schedule of presentations, debates and interaction. But what happens now? With UNAIDS reporting a shortfall of US$8 billion in AIDS funding...

    Translating Talk into Action – International XVII AIDS Conference, Mexico
  6. News 23 September 2008

    Interview with General Secretaries of Nepalese unions

    Birendra P. Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Teachers' Association (NTA) and Baburam Adhikari, General Secretary of Nepal National Teachers' Association (NNTA) attended the inaugural EI EFAIDS workshop in Nepal that took place from 25th until 28th June 2008.

    Interview with General Secretaries of Nepalese unions
  7. News 15 September 2008

    Save Farzad: Your support is still urgently needed!

    According to the latest news on Farsi websites, the situation of Iranian teacher trade unionist Farzad Kamangar remains critical. Farzad is still alive, but facing the death sentence which has not yet been commuted. At present, he is in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison in section 209, the...

    Save Farzad: Your support is still urgently needed!
  8. 10 September 2008

    Nepal: Historic elections bring new era of hope

    A bloody decade of civil war in which more than 130,000 Nepalese people were killed came to an end earlier this year. National elections took place on April 10 in a peaceful atmosphere, despite serious violence and human rights violations during the campaign.

    Nepal: Historic elections bring new era of hope
  9. 10 September 2008

    Iran: The internet fosters free expression

    Iranians are using the internet to exercise their right to free expression as never before - despite strict prohibitions and severe penalties imposed by the authorities.

    Iran: The internet fosters free expression
  10. 10 September 2008

    China: Teacher punished for photos of schools

    A teacher who published online photos of schools that collapsed due to the Sichuan earthquake has been ordered to serve one year of Reeducation-Through-Labour, according to Human Rights in China.

    China: Teacher punished for photos of schools
  11. News 19 August 2008

    Farzad Kamangar: sentenced to death after a five-minute trial

    On 25 February 2008, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Farzad Kamangar to death on charges of "endangering national security" and "enmity against God" (moharebe). The death penalty was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 11 July.

    Farzad Kamangar: sentenced to death after a five-minute trial
  12. News 14 August 2008

    EI launches urgent action appeal for Iranian teacher Farzad Kamangar

    EI launched an urgent action appeal on 14 August in a bid to save Farzad Kamangar, a 33-year old teacher and former trade unionist from the Kurdistan Province of Iran, who is currently at risk of being executed following the ruling issued at an unfair trial.

    EI launches urgent action appeal for Iranian teacher Farzad Kamangar
  13. News 8 August 2008

    Iran: Kamangar’s defenders suffer reprisals

    Three teachers who joined a committee in support of Farzad Kamangar have been imprisoned, and several other trade unionists who have been calling for re-examination of his case are now receiving threats and phone calls from the Ministry of Intelligence, which does not hesitate to call family members of activists...

    Iran: Kamangar’s defenders suffer reprisals
  14. News 31 July 2008

    Ethiopia: EI asks government to amend its draft bill on associations

    EI has written to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to deplore that the Charities and Societies Proclamation, a draft law, is a covert means of placing civil society organisations under government control. EI joined Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International in their criticism of the proposed legislation.

    Ethiopia: EI asks government to amend its draft bill on associations
  15. News 30 July 2008

    Putting the 'C' in ABC

    The recent controversy in South Africa on making condoms available in schools highlighted what remains a sensitive issue in some societies. The fear that sex education combined with access to contraception, including condoms, encourages young people to have sex at an early age is a very real concern for many...

    Putting the 'C' in ABC
  16. News 30 July 2008

    EFAIDS Workshops in Venezuela and Dominican Republic

    Recent workshops in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic reflect the growing emphasis on intra-regional partnership. In this spirit of cooperation, Gabriela Bonilla of the EI Latin American Regional Office in Costa Rica and Rosario Avila from the Honduran teacher union movement travelled to facilitate workshops in Caracas and Santo Domingo.

    EFAIDS Workshops in Venezuela and Dominican Republic