Ei-iE

Samual Morales, former teacher and regional president of the Colombian Trade Union Confederation (CUT), has been released after spending 3 years in prison.

EI joins the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) in mourning the death of founder member and national treasurer MacDonald Mangauzani on 27 May. Reports suggest that he succumbed to internal injuries sustained from brutal torture while in police custody last February.

Of the seven teachers arrested and taken to Evin prison during a protest on 8 May, five have been released after posting bail of $30,000 each.

A joint statement was issued on 1 May by all Cambodian trade unions, including EI member organisation the Cambodia Independent Teachers' Association (CITA), calling for investigation into the murder of trade union leaders.

Earlier this year we reported on the detention of three elected officers of the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA), including Meqcha Mengistu, a member of the Committee for the implementation of the EFAIDS Programme. The three men were finally released on 22 March after three months of imprisonment and torture and...

The Chairperson of EI member organisation, the Ethiopian Teachers' Association (ETA), has finally been released from police custody, after the court cleared him of the charges brought against him.

EI sent a strong message to the Greek Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs on 4 April, condemning the use of violence by the police against teacher unionists and students during their demonstration on 8 March.

The three elected officers of the Ethiopian Teachers Association (ETA) detained since December 2006 have finally been released on 22 March. Tilahun Ayalew, Meqcha Mengistu and Antenech Getenet were detained and tortured by the police for over three months. They were freed from custody when they last appeared in court...

Representatives from EI, the Southern African Teacher Organisation (SATO) and the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (SATCC) are currently in Botswana to show solidarity with the President of the Botswana Teachers' Union (BTU), Japhta Radibe.

EI has written to the President of Guatemala on 21 March supporting the demands of its member organisation, the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Educación de Guatemala (STEG).

In Geneva, the Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings (STM) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body approved on 19 March a new approach to activities that takes ILO's agenda out into the workplace.

EI was shocked by the use of force at a church-led prayer rally in Harare last Sunday which resulted in one death and many casualties, including women and children.

EI’s mission to help its affiliate the East Timor Teacher Union (ETTU) resume its activities has been postponed due to civil unrest.

Arsonists have attacked and destroyed the offices of the Sakarya branch of EI member organisation Egitim-Sen. Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident.

EI affiliate the Zimbabwe Teachers Union (ZIMTA) has instructed its members to join a general strike.

EI Vice President Abdulwaheed Omar has been elected President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on 16 February 2007.

A new government is being formed after the coalition agreement was presented on 7 February. Two former Presidents of the Algemene Onderwijsbond (AOb) Ella Vogelaar and Jacques Tichelaar were appointed to important positions in the new government.

Last month we reported on the disappearance of Meqcha Mengistu, Chairperson of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA) East Gojam Zonal Executive and member of the ETA Committee for the implementation of the EI/ETA EFAIDS Programme. Mr. Mengistu has now been located and is awaiting trial.