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 30 July 2008

    NANTU launch workplace policy

    The Namibia National Teachers’ Union, NANTU, has produced a comprehensive HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy. The document, which was drafted in consultation with the legal assistance centre in Namibia, was launched on 21 June during the National Teachers’ Council Meeting. NANTU plans to attune their EFAIDS activities to the policy...

    NANTU launch workplace policy
  2. News 30 July 2008

    EFAIDS Workshop in Bamako

    Mor Mbengue, Deputy Secretary General of the Senegalese Union Démocratique des Enseignantes et des Enseignants du Sénégal (UDEN) travelled to Bamako, Mali to share his knowledge of the new EFAIDS toolkits with Malian colleagues. Forty national facilitators of the Malian Syndicat National de l’Education et de la Culture (SNEC) from...

    EFAIDS Workshop in Bamako
  3. News 30 July 2008

    Union meeting to precede International AIDS Conference in Mexico

    The Global Union AIDS Programme is organising a two-day Labour AIDS Forum to facilitate trade union cooperation in advance of the biennial International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico City from 3-8 August 2008.

    Union meeting to precede International AIDS Conference in Mexico
  4. News 30 July 2008

    Greater global effort needed to achieve 2010 goal on HIV/AIDS

    One of the highlights of the United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS held in New York on 10 - 11 June was the presentation of the progress report on the implementation of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.

    Greater global effort needed to achieve 2010 goal on HIV/AIDS
  5. News 18 July 2008

    US Democrats woo teachers' unions

    Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is determined to help American educators create better opportunities for all children by improving education quality throughout the United States. He criticized the Bush administration for having failed to give teachers the means to achieve the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act, which...

    US Democrats woo teachers' unions
  6. News 17 July 2008

    Iranian court upholds death sentence against teacher trade unionist

    Farzad Kamangar could face execution in the near future, according to the web site Human Rights Activists in Iran. On 11 July, the Iranian Supreme Court confirmed the death penalty against Kamangar, a 33-year-old Kurdish teacher and trade unionist.

    Iranian court upholds death sentence against teacher trade unionist
  7. News 17 July 2008

    EI supports campaign to free imprisoned Turkish trade unionist

    EI echoes the call from Public Services International to free Meryem Özsögüt. A member of the executive committee of the Health Workers Trade Union (SES), Özsögüt has been in jail for the past six months for having done nothing more than attend a press conference to denounce the killing of...

    EI supports campaign to free imprisoned Turkish trade unionist
  8. News 11 July 2008

    Argentina: Murderer of teacher Carlos Fuentealba sentenced to life in prison

    The convicted murderer of Argentine teacher Carlos Fuentealba has been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Neuquén, the city in which he was killed during a peaceful teacher union demonstration last year.

    Argentina: Murderer of teacher Carlos Fuentealba sentenced to life in prison
  9. News 1 July 2008

    Zimbabwe: Attacks on unionists continue after election

    The national campaign of intimidation against human and trade union rights activists continues even after Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for another 5-year term. This follows an election process described by the African Union as "falling short of accepted AU standards."

    Zimbabwe: Attacks on unionists continue after election
  10. News 27 June 2008

    Ethiopia: The Federal Supreme Court rules against the original ETA

    Late on 26 June, EI received a disturbing update from Gemoraw Kassa, General Secretary of the ETA, established in 1949 and EI Member, informing EI that the court of cassation at the Federal Supreme Court ruled against the original ETA, 26 June.

    Ethiopia: The Federal Supreme Court rules against the original ETA
  11. News 27 June 2008

    Education International joins the World AIDS Campaign in calling for the establishment of a high-level G8 AIDS mechanism and the fulfilment of commitments made on AIDS at previous G8 summits

    Education International and the Global Unions endorse the campaign statement and EI encourages affiliates to support it by sending their organisation’s name and email address to [email protected] with the subject ‘Statement Agreement’ before 30 June 2008.

    Education International joins the World AIDS Campaign in calling for the establishment of a high-level G8 AIDS mechanism and the fulfilment of commitments made on AIDS at previous G8 summits
  12. News 26 June 2008

    EI pays tribute to trade union victims on UN Day supporting victims of torture

    On the United Nations' International Day in Support of Victims of Torture - observed every year on 26 June - EI pays tribute to the innocent trade union rights activists who are subjected to moral harassment, intimidation, physical assaults and torture for defending fundamental human rights.

    EI pays tribute to trade union victims on UN Day supporting victims of torture
  13. News 24 June 2008

    Zimbabwe: Trade Unions Call for ILO Commission of Inquiry

    Trade unionists, including educators from across Africa and from around the world have called for an official ILO Commission of Inquiry into Zimbabwe, as more reports of torture and murder of trade unionists emerge from the country.

    Zimbabwe: Trade Unions Call for ILO Commission of Inquiry
  14. News 20 June 2008

    Zimbabwe: Two teachers dead, three more missing

    Zimbabwean teachers are being severely targeted in the brutal reprisals now being meted out as Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party desperately cling to power. EI’s affiliate the Zimbabwe Teacher Association (ZIMTA) and the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) both reported violence against teachers in the rural areas.

    Zimbabwe: Two teachers dead, three more missing
  15. News 11 June 2008

    Zimbabwe: Teacher unionists under attack again

    Harassment and intimidation of teachers and their trade unions continues in Zimbabwe in the lead-up to the June 27 election to determine whether Robert Mugabe of the ZANU-PF or his opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai will win the presidency.

    Zimbabwe: Teacher unionists under attack again