Ei-iE

Teachers and public servants from the federal states of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have stepped up their campaign over inadequate pay and the need to improve their professional status, by taking the decision to strike.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) acting national chairman Wilson Sossion has urged the government to stop hiring teachers under fixed-term contracts.

Amid stout battles to save collective bargaining rights for teachers, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and National Education Association (NEA) have learned that up to 5,000 teachers are threatened with redundancy in New York.

Teachers around the globe are deeply concerned about efforts to strip educators and other public employees of fundamental trade union rights.

On behalf of Education International, the Global Union Federation representing 30 million teachers and education workers through 396 member organisations in 171 countries and territories, I express our concern over Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s budget bill to strip 175,000 state employees, including teachers, of collective bargaining rights.

EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, has paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary of Education of the United States of America, Arne Duncan, in Washington DC.

Responding to the Science Plan proposed by Luc Chatel, Minister for Education, French EI affiliates have emphasised the need for good initial teacher training.

EI’s French affiliates have called into question proposals from the Minister for Education, Luc Chatel, who’s ‘Science Plan’ threatens the emphasis on good initial teacher training.

Teacher unions in Serbia have elected to strike after a string of failed attempts to negotiate with the government which has refused to engage in social dialogue relating to poor working conditions and inadequate pay for teachers.

An international trade union delegation has met with World Bank and International Monetary Fund directors to urge leaders to combat the economic crisis to foster inclusive growth by committing to social protection strategies.

EI and its US affiliate members, the National Education Association (NEA), and American Federation of Teachers (AFT), will join world leaders from the OECD at a Summit on the Teaching Profession in New York, from 16-17 March, 2011.

Teachers from the Dominican Republic have been holding demonstrations throughout November to demand 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) be spent on education in 2011.

EI President, Susan Hopgood, joined the Global Unions Summit at the G20 meetings in Seoul, South Korea, and met with EI national affiliates.

The French Republic is currently experiencing a huge social movement. The outcry against the pension reforms, imposed by Nicolas Sarkozy’s government, has brought the French masses out into the streets.

Teacher unionists from Central and Eastern European (CEE) have adopted a declaration following a roundtable meeting in Bucharest, Romania, in which they have shared concerns about the effects of the economic crisis on funding for education and, in particular, on teachers' salaries.

Trade unions in Spain have called the whole country to take part in a general strike on 29 September to oppose changes in workers conditions and pension rights that Zapatero’s government is implementing.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is staging a European Day of Action on 29 September in opposition to austerity programmes being adopted by governments all over the continent.

Thousands of teachers from all over the Republic of China (Taiwan) descended on its capital, Taipei City, on 26 September to demonstrate for the right of private school teachers to receive pensions.