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50 Years of Struggle: CUPE LGBTQ2+ History
CUPE members fight for inclusion of sexual orientation in employer anti-discrimination policies, e.g. Toronto municipal and library workers. New CUPE “Standard Agreement” (model collective agreement language) emphasizes equality. National Convention calls on all governments to extend human rights protection to sexual orientation…
We did it! New ILO Convention on violence and harassment at work
The adoption of the Convention and Recommendation is a huge victory for workers and the trade union movement, which has been fighting for years to get an international labour instrument to address gender-based violence (GBV) in the world of work. The…
Study highlights value of public services
We all rely on public services, and now Statistics Canada has put a number on exactly how much value we get from public spending on health care, education, and other public services like housing, recreation and culture. The study found…
IndustriALL sexual harassment policy | IndustriALL
Statement of Principles Sexual harassment is a violation of human and trade union rights and dignity. IndustriALL Global Union is committed to provide a safe environment free of any form of sexual harassment during activities and meetings that it organizes,…
Sherbrooke municipal workers and bus drivers take action against contracting out
This past Monday, the CUPE locals that represent municipal outside workers and bus drivers in Sherbrooke, QC, held a day of action to protest the contracting out and privatization of public services. From 4 to 6 pm, they held a…
2019 Centenary International Labour Conference adopts new Convention and Recommendation on violence and harassment in the world of work
Education International warmly welcomes the historic move by the 108th Centenary International Labour Conference, which has just adopted a first of its kind global instrument: a Convention and Recommendation on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. The document…
Experts group explores transformation in the auto industry
The meeting was attended by experts from auto unions affiliated to IndustriALL: IF Metall in Sweden, IG Metall in Germany, the KMWU in Korea, the JAW in Japan, NUMSA in South Africa, Unifor in Canada, the UAW in the USA,…
Snow removal contracts beset by fraud in Montreal
Blue collar workers point out that they are the best bastion against corruption The Office of the Inspector General of the City of Montreal has cancelled two contracts worth more than $9.3 million with subcontractors providing snow removal services, after noticing…
Asia-Pacific unions call for day of action for trade justice
The union leaders were participating in a meeting on Asia-Pacific Trade and Industrial Policy, organized by IndustriALL Global Union and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) on 10-11 June 2019 in Singapore. They echoed the ten guiding principles of IndustriALL’s global…
CUPE 4992 K-12 maintenance workers reach tentative agreement with SD59
CUPE 4992 reached a tentative agreement yesterday with Peace River South schoold district (SD59). The agreement was reached in one bargaining session. CUPE 4992 President Darcy Whetter noted that the smaller local did not have a lot of requests and the employer…
Education workers urge Toronto District School Board trustees to put students first and “just say no” to dangerous cuts
With the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) set to implement the largest cuts since the Harris era to its budget, education workers are urging trustees to follow the example of their predecessors and to refuse to pass a budget that…
CUPE 801 K-12 support workers on the Sunshine Coast reach tentative agreement
CUPE 801, K-12 support workers at SD46, reached a tentative agreement last night following five bargaining sessions that began in March. CUPE 801 President Janice Budgell said that the bargaining process went very well, and their bargaining committee is looking forward…
“Red pens” mobilise the private education unions
Education trade unions representing state-subsidised private education in France have made history by uniting to put forward their demands and call for “decent and peaceful working conditions for all employees”, as “a matter of survival and dignity”. In January 2019,…
With 825 health jobs gone, Ford directly responsible for biggest job loss and diminished patient access
With reports that the Doug Ford government is eliminating 825 jobs at health care agencies, “the true nature of the cruel PC budget and restructuring system changes are becoming clearer every day,” says Heather Duff, chair of CUPE Ontario’s health…
Teachers stand up for displaced children and teachers
As growing numbers of refugees try to find safety from conflict, persecution, and natural disasters often induced by climate change, Education International is highlighting the plight of displaced children and educators worldwide. According to the United Nations, 70.8 million children,…
Trade union repression continues in Algeria
It is the third year running that Algeria has been under scrutiny by the Committee on the Application of Standards at the Conference for violations of fundamental ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association. Raouf Mellal, who is president of…
“Red pens” mobilise the private education unions
Education trade unions representing state-subsidised private education in France have made history by uniting to put forward their demands and call for “decent and peaceful working conditions for all employees”, as “a matter of survival and dignity”. In January 2019,…
#14J: massive general strike in Brazil
The aim of the general strike was to stop a social security reform in the Chamber of Deputies, which would mean a setback in terms of rights. In addition, strikers reject the budget cut for public education and are against…
The OECD Teaching and International Survey (TALIS) 2018 data released
The latest Teaching and international Survey (TALIS) 2018 report released by the OECD illustrates the issues teachers face in their workplace; focusing on working time and training of teachers. The latest Teaching and international Survey (TALIS) 2018 report released by…
World unions march to UN for a fair social contract
https://youtu.be/iO6EH4EqL50 Unions, including global unions and IndustriALL affiliates from the CGT and FO in France, CGIL in Italy and the KMWU in Korea, marched through Geneva calling for a new social contract. The challenges facing workers include the urgent need…
UAW loses election at VW Chattanooga by 29 votes
In the end, the difference between a unionized workplace and one without real worker representation was narrow: 833 employees voted against union representation and 776 in favour, a difference of merely 29 votes. The UAW and the global union movement…
Young unionists demanding justice for Lula
“We have been protesting for 417 days”, says a sign outside the federal police headquarters in Curitiba, where Lula da Silva is currently incarcerated. It is a permanent camp where hundreds of people meet every day to call for Lula’s release….
Solidarity with imprisoned union leader at Indonesian seafood giant BMI
IUF affiliates in Indonesia continue their protests in support of Reni Desmiria, secretary of the SPBMI, the union of workers at major global processed seafood exporter Bumi Menara Internusa (BMI) in Lampung. Reni was arrested and jailed on May 17,…
United Steelworkers files ILO complaint against Quebec government
The USW complaint stems from Quebec Premier François Legault’s interference in negotiations in the 17-month lockout at the aluminum smelter in Bécancour, co-owned by aluminum giants Alcoa and Rio Tinto. “By his statements aimed at discrediting the trade union position by…
Official UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources moves one step further
Education International welcomes UNESCO global commitment to advancing access to works for teaching and learning through expanding access to quality and locally relevant open educational resources. EI welcomed the progress at the intergovernmental meeting of experts to examine a UNESCO…
Challenges and conditions of teaching profession at heart of international debate
Education International and its affiliates ensure that the voice of educators is heard loud and clear at this year’s International Labour Conference in Switzerland. The conference, from 10 to 21 June, in Geneva, is attended by a delegation led by…
Education unions play a crucial role in eradicating child labour through quality public education
Education international has reminded the International Labour Organisation’s Centenary Conference Forum to commemorate the World Day against Child Labour that educators and their trade unions worldwide are determined to eradicate this scourge and guarantee access to education for all. Speaking…
UN Experts call on ILO to recognize health and safety workplace conditions as a fundamental right
A group of United Nations Special Rapporteurs and Independent Experts have called on the ILO to recognize the right to safe and healthy workplaces as one of its ‘Fundamental principles and rights at work’, a proposal contained in the draft…
Solidarity with striking metal workers in Italy
Members of three of IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliates in Italy – FIM CISL, FIOM-CGIL and UILM – are taking coordinated action to call on the government and the private sector to: Invest to create jobs in environmentally sustainable industry Increase wages…
Former EI President Thulas Nxesi appointed to South Africa’s cabinet
Education international and the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union welcome the decision of the President of South Africa’s to appoint former President of Education International, Cde Thulas Nxesi, to the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister of Labour and Employment….