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 28 March 2006

    UK: Teacher unions show solidarity with 1m striking local government workers

    EI affiliates the NASUWT, NUT and AUT are supporting local government employee unions in their one day strike today; part of the campaign to demand fair treatment over pension rights in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

    UK: Teacher unions show solidarity with 1m striking local government workers
  2. News 27 March 2006

    Macedonia: EI affiliate win legal battle

    SONK, EI’s Macedonian affiliate, is celebrating the legalisation of a new trade union centre of which it was a founding member.

    Macedonia: EI affiliate win legal battle
  3. News 24 March 2006

    Call for G8 HIV/AIDS permanent working group

    Global Unions have recently launched a G8 HIV/AIDS Campaign as part of the 28 April “International Commemoration Day (ICD) for Dead and Injured Workers”. This campaign aims at convincing the Heads of State at next July’s G8 Summit in Russia to create a permanent high-level G8 working group on HIV/AIDS.

    Call for G8 HIV/AIDS permanent working group
  4. News 23 March 2006

    Jamaica: affiliate insists school security should be priority

    EI affiliate the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) has taken issue with Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson's statement on the matter of security at public schools.

    Jamaica: affiliate insists school security should be priority
  5. News 23 March 2006

    Malta: Trade Unions in Solidarity with Teachers

    Various trade unions showed support for EI affiliate the Malta Union of Teachers' (MUT) directive for a one-hour strike in state schools today.

    Malta: Trade Unions in Solidarity with Teachers
  6. News 20 March 2006

    Trinidad & Tobago: Security concerns lead to protests

    Members of EI affiliate the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) are being supported by parents in their protest over security concerns at schools.

    Trinidad & Tobago: Security concerns lead to protests
  7. News 15 March 2006

    Algeria: re-establishment of social partnership

    EI's protest letter dated 22 Feb to the Minister of Education in support of its Algerian affiliates, the "Union nationale des travailleurs de l’éducation et de la formation" (UNPEF) and the "Syndicat autonome des travailleurs de l’éducation et de la formation" (SATEF) seems to bear fruit.

    Algeria: re-establishment of social partnership
  8. News 3 March 2006

    Algeria: government threatens to dissolve teacher union

    EI is appalled that the two strike actions within an interval of one month by both primary and secondary school teachers did not convince the Algerian government to enter into negotiations with the Inter-Union Coordination of National Education (CITE), to which EI affiliates the "Union nationale des travailleurs de l’éducation...

    Algeria: government threatens to dissolve teacher union
  9. News 2 March 2006

    Ethiopia: international collaboration for the release of teacher unionist

    EI is working with partner Global Union Federations, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), as well as Amnesty International for the release of Kassahun Kebede, chairperson of the Addis Ababa branch of EI affiliate, the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA).

    Ethiopia: international collaboration for the release of teacher unionist
  10. News 1 March 2006

    Cambodia: CITA thanks EI affiliates for their international solidarity

    Due to the international solidarity actions from EI affiliates around the world, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) was finally released on bail. Upon his release, he and other members of CITA thank colleagues around the world for their support and assistance.

    Cambodia: CITA thanks EI affiliates for their international solidarity
  11. News 17 February 2006

    Nepal: All teachers' union leaders have been released but situation remains volatile

    EI has received information from its members in Nepal that all teachers' union leaders have been released from detention - the last one being released on Feb 16. EI affiliates in Nepal - NTA, NNTA and TUN - thank all EI member organisations for their support. It is obvious that...

    Nepal: All teachers' union leaders have been released but situation remains volatile
  12. News 17 February 2006

    Georgia: EI’s letter of protest to the President and Minister of Education & Science

    Education International has written to Mikheil Saakashvili, the president of the Republic of Georgia, and Alexander Lomaia the minister of education & science, in support of affiliate the Educators and Scientists Free Trade Union of Georgia.

    Georgia: EI’s letter of protest to the President and Minister of Education & Science
  13. News 15 February 2006

    Iran: Union day of action

    The Global Union Federations are supporting the international day of action in support of Iranian unionists following the continuing repression against the Trade Union of the Greater Teheran United Bus Company (Sherkate-Vahed).

    Iran: Union day of action
  14. News 15 February 2006

    EI monitors the situation in Nepal

    EI and other trade union bodies are monitoring the situation in Nepal closely, as hundreds of pro-democracy activists are still detained across the country.

    EI monitors the situation in Nepal
  15. News 14 February 2006

    UK: Peter Smith, former ATL general secretary dies

    Former general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), and member of EI’s European Committee, Peter Smith, has died at the age of 65.

    UK: Peter Smith, former ATL general secretary dies
  16. News 9 February 2006

    EI on Danish cartoon row: extra attention should be paid to teaching democracy and human rights

    "Apparently, there is a reciprocal lack of understanding about the crucial importance of fundamental human rights like freedom of expression, that constitute the basis of democratic societies, and on the other hand, the religious feelings of millions of people in Muslim countries," said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen, when...

    EI on Danish cartoon row: extra attention should be paid to teaching democracy and human rights