European Trade Union Committee for Education

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On 26-28 November 2018, ETUCE, the European Region of Education International (EI), at the occasion of its Special Conference in Athens, Greece, will discuss the role of education trade unions in shaping the future of Europe. Empowering education trade unions through capacity building, trade union renewal and strong and effective social dialogue will be at the core of the two-day debate among 300 delegates from 132 education trade unions across Europe.

Education trade unions delegates will discuss the challenges for education, teachers and other education personnel at a time when attacks on fundamental values of freedom, democracy, tolerance, equality, non-discrimination, respect for the rule of law, human rights and solidarity are increasing. Within the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, academic experts and high-level representatives from the Council of Europe and the European Commission will contribute to animate the debate. The union delegates are invited to share their union’s prospects on how to ensure that policy initiatives at European and national level targeting education, fair and sustainable employment and social policies, such as the European Pillar of Social Rights and the proposal for a European Education Area post-2020 respect the view of teachers and other education personnel.

“The future of Europe relies on strong, independent and democratic education trade unions as legitimate social partners, promoters of quality education and of democratic values through education, and defenders of all education personnel’s rights and prerogatives.”, said Susan Flocken, ETUCE European Director announcing the meeting.

“In Europe today, changing economies and contexts of governance, decreasing public investment and increasing influence of private interests over public good are breaking apart the vital social, equality and solidarity ties that bind societies and people together. Trade unions need to act to regain their legitimate collective power to ensure that the status of teachers and educators is respected. The recognition of education trade unions as legitimate representatives of education personnel is a vital element of quality education and of democracy”, Ms Flocken continued.

To this end, the ETUCE Special Conference is to set forth strategies and actions for trade union renewal with a view to build the capacity, commitment, confidence and hope of individual members to organise and to act collectively within their trade union.

Delegates are to engage dynamically throughout the meeting also via the ETUCE Special Conference application for digital devices.

To follow the Special Conference: ETUCE on Twitter and #ETUCE2018

To know more about the event, visit the ETUCE Special Conference website