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.
I would like to thank Education International for giving Colprosumah the opportunity to participate in the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference at the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland on behalf of this global teachers’ federation of which we are proudly members. Our participation focused on denouncing the inequalities and...
Why it’s important to have a voice at the International Labour Conference, by Roberto Trochez Bardales
At this year’s International Labour Conference, Education International has reaffirmed the need for providing all workers, in particular, those in education, with respectful work places that ensure equality and non-discrimination, as well as social dialogue, in order to achieve quality education for all.
ILC 2018: EI makes the case for ensuring quality, non-discriminatory and non-violent work environments
Arab teacher union leaders have reasserted the need for public authorities in their region to listen to teacher organisations carefully, especially concerning current burning issues in their schools, notably refugee students and educators.
Arab countries’ unions crucial to achieve international goals on education in their region
As public authorities have not yet increased teacher salaries and lowered their workload, the ‘Code Red’ actions for primary education continue; moving to eastern provinces of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands: mobilisation of education unionists for quality primary education
Education International brings the voice of teachers and education personnel to the 107th session of the International Labour Conference.
International Labour Conference: teachers’ concerns highlighted
Kurdistan’s education trade union was successful in easing drastic salary cuts planned for teachers.
Iraq: Teachers’ salary cuts limited
Education International has called for the release of Iranian teacher unionists Mohammad Habibi and Esmail Abdi, while global human rights organisation Amnesty International has also called for Abdi’s release as a prisoner of conscience.
Iran: Campaign to free jailed teacher unionists gathers pace
70,000 people participated in a demonstration organised in defence of pensions. The government plans to change the pensions in a manner that might put them at risk.
Belgium: trade unions united for decent pensions that let workers grow old with dignity.
While welcoming the 15 April release on bail of Iranian educator unionist Mohammad Habibi after 44 days of detention, Education International urges the Iranian authorities to set jailed trade unionists free.
Iran: Teacher unionist Mohamed Habibi released
Education International took part in a solidarity rally for Brazil’s former president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on 11 April.
Education unions mobilise to reinforce Brazilian democracy
In the light of violence that culminated in the murder of Brazilian politician and city councilor Marielle Franco in Rio de Janeiro on 14 March, and with the judicial and media persecution of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Education International has urged President Temer to ensure the respect...
Education International urges Brazil to revert to ‘beacon of democracy’
The Education Trade Union in Finland, Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö has welcomed the support given by parents and citizens to the status and living and working conditions of early childhood educators.
Finland: Parents march to demand better salary for early childhood education teachers
Teacher unionists Esmail Abdi and Roberto Baradel have been recognised by the UK’s National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers for their fight for the rights of teachers and quality education in Iran and Argentina respectively.
UK: education unionists in solidarity with Iranian and Argentinian colleagues
Education International joins its affiliate the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in expressing alarm about the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines, as the country’s State Prosecutor is seeking to have teachers, Indigenous peoples’ leaders and human rights defenders declared terrorists and outlaws.
Philippines: Criminalisation of indigenous leaders and human rights defenders
Over the last few years I have researched and written a good deal about ‘union renewal’ – the process by which unions (re-)connect with their grassroots and create vibrant, inclusive and collective cultures that empower members to be the educators they want to be, working in the systems they aspire...
The UK University Strike – union renewal in action, by Howard Stevenson.
During Global Francophonie Week, the Comité syndical francophone de l'éducation et de la formation recalled the need for democracy around the world, which necessarily requires “free quality public education funded mainly by States”.
The responsibility of the French-speaking public authorities in guaranteeing quality public education for all is reaffirmed
The Universities’ Academic Staff Union, an Education International’s affiliate in Kenya, is involved in a labour dispute with the employers’ federation for public universities over the negotiation and implementation of a collective bargaining agreement.
Kenya: Higher education sector maintains pressure on employers for social dialogue
While the country has faced a major strike in defense of public services, the French unions members of Education International recall their concerns for the status of government teachers, the quality of education and social dialogue.
France: education unions extremely worried for the quality of education public services