EI is supportive of teacher unionists in Northern Cyprus which face a condemnation by court on 25 October for protesting at funding cuts in education.
Union activists of the teacher unions in the Northern part of Cyprus face a two year prison sentence for having taken part in legitimate union actions on 2 August 2010, 23 November and 28 October 2009. Teacher unions were opposing unilateral changes in the education service in Northern Cyprus and demanded that quality public education be preserved.
The trade union actions have been met with violence by the local authorities and police. Such repression to peaceful civil protests are in breach of European and international legislations and violate the trade union rights of the teachers concerned.
Following their arrest on 2 August 2010, the activists of the Cyprus Turkish Teachers' Trade Union (KTOS) were brought to court. Upon postponing the verdict earlier on 19 October, the magistrate stated cynically "Heroism is made in prison".
The teacher union KTOS will organise a march on Monday 25 October 2010, in support with the union defendents.
EI is exploring ways to extend solidarity to its member organisations.