Keep up to date with what’s happening around the world in education and trade unionism by visiting this page regularly for the latest updates and by following the links below to the Department for International Development UK (DFID), Education International (EI), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Teacher Solidarity and the Trades Union Congress (TUC). (Please note that the NUT is not responsible for the content of external sites.)

Statement on Greece

Public education and teachers’ working conditions in Greece are suffering a strong blow once again by the government and the Troika. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) stands in solidarity with our Greek colleagues.  Click here to see a statement by the General Secretary.

Israeli Soldiers’ Use of Palestinian Teenager as Human Shield

The General Secretary has sent a letter to Rt Hon William Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs protesting about Israeli soldiers using a handcuffed Palestinian teenager as a human shield.  You can view the letter here.

NUT supports Boston

The General Secretary has written letters of support to our Boston affiliates after the shocking explosions at the Boston Marathon. You can download those letters below.

Letter to Thomas Gosnell (President AFT Massachusetts)
Letter to Paul Toner (President Massachusetts Teachers Association)

Solidarity with the Danish Teachers Unions

The General Secretary has sent a letter to the Danish government in relation to its intervention which supports the employers who want to remove all working time agreements in the education sector.  You can read this letter here along with the response from Christine Antorini, Minister of Children and Education, Copenhagen.

Turkey: High court releases trade unionists

22 trade unionists have been released on bail after 289 days in jail. Among the released are Mehmet Bozgeyik and Sakine Eren Yılmaz, respectively General Secretary and Women’s Secretary of Egitim Sen. 72 members and leaders of the Federation of public employees’ trade unions (KESK), including many of Egitim Sen’s members were arrested in 21 Turkish cities allegedly for supporting terrorist organisations. For more information click here.

Release Bahraini Teaching Union Leader

The 6thof April marks the second anniversary of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association leader Mahdi Abu Dheeb’s imprisonment. He is detained in Jaw Prison under difficult conditions and he is denied medical treatment required by his doctor.  The General Secretary has written to the King of Bahrain demanding the authorities release Mahdi immediately. You can view the letter here.

Pakistan: Teachers and students violently attacked

Pakistan is counting the costs of a week of carnage in which teachers and pupils have been violently attacked simply because they want to go to school. The campaign of violence against girls' education has now moved from the tribal areas into Karachi - one of the country's huge cities. For more information click here and to sign a petition calling for a cessation of violence against teachers who are defending the right of girls to go to school click here.

Closure of Philadelphia Public Schools and Arrest of AFT Leader

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission voted to close 23 public schools at a meeting where American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten was arrested along with 18 other activists during a protest at the entrance to the hearing. The General Secretary has written to the School Reform Commission and the Mayor to express her dismay at this decision. You can view the letters to Michael Nutter here and the letter to Pedro Ramos here.

Bahrain: Free Mahdi Abu Dheeb and reinstate Jalila AL-Salman

Jalila al-Salman, vice president of BTA, received a letter of job termination which stated that al-Salman was fired effective October 22, 2012, the date of the “final verdict” of her judicial case, although her case is in the midst of an appeal with Bahrain’s Court of Cassation. The General Secretary has written to the Bahraini Ambassador in Bahrain about this matter. You can view the letter here.

Post 2015 Millennium Development Goals

The 2015 Millennium Development Goals are currently being reviewed.  This link takes you to a web site that invites dialogue with the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.  David Cameron is the Co-Chair of the Panel.  Education needs to feature strongly, please join the debate now.  

Jubilee Time Capsule

2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The Jubilee Time Capsule will tell the story of the last sixty years. On Wednesday 14 November, the Jubilee Time Capsule was presented to Her Majesty The Queen. John Samson, a 12-year-old boy from Malawi and Junior Prize winner of this year’s RCS Essay Competition, had the honour of presenting The Queen with a tablet computer holding the top 60 JTC entries. Click here to see John’s winning entry, the top 60 Diamond (re)Collection and more.

Malala Day

Saturday 10th November has been designated Malala Day by the UN in recognition of the bravery of Pakistani teenager Malala Yosufzai, who was shot in the head for speaking up for her right to education in September. A joint letter by TUC, NUT, ATL and NASUWT designed to press the Pakistani Government to ensure all children go to school was sent to His Excellency Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan, High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. You can view the letter here.

Chicago Teachers’ Strike

The NUT wholeheartedly supports the Chicago Teachers’ Union in taking the difficult decision to hold the first teachers strike in twenty five years. Read the letter of support from Christine Blower to Karen Lewis, President of Chicago Teachers’ Union here.

Sudan: We Choose Peace

The NUT supports the global campaign, We Choose Peace, which is backed by over 150 organisations and calls on the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the League of Arab States (LAS) & other influential governments to persuade Sudan & South Sudan to resolve outstanding issues between them. For more info read the Crisis Action media release.

Turkey: Condemn the Arrests of Trade Union Leaders

Nearly 70 unionists had their houses searched by the police and were taken into custody early on the morning of 25th June. The General Secretary has written to the Prime Minister and President of Turkey to protest against the harrassment and intimidation of those arrested. To view the letters click here.

Fair Games?

Visit here today and take action by telling the brands featured in the Fair Games? report that they must face up to the reality of rights in their supply chains and commit to raise the bar on workers’ rights.

The Fair Games? report investigated working conditions in 10 factories producing sportswear, including for the Olympics. Evidence showed the systematic and widespread exploitation. Please read the report and participate in the action.

Education International - Monthly Newsletter

Department for International Development www.dfid.gov.uk

Education International www.ei-ie.org

International Labour Organisation www.ilo.org

Teacher Solidarity www.teachersolidarity.com

Trades Union Congress www.tuc.org.uk/international

Current NUT international news

The NUT's General Secretary wrote to the Prime Minister of Iraq, protesting against the withdrawal of trade union recognition rights.