European Trade Union Committee for Education

• View all news from ETUCE

Every year, Labour Day is the occasion to celebrate the workers and their struggle. This year, for the second year in a row, there will not be any parade or gathering due to the COVID-19 context. This pandemic that has had a tremendous impact on all aspects of our lives, has not spared the teachers. Today ETUCE wishes to thank all teachers, academics and other education personnel, as well as their unions, for all the work done and their constant fight to deliver quality education to prepare young people for life, in these incredibly difficult circumstances.

This pandemic has shown us how crucial working people are and among them, the teachers. Teachers and other education personnel are among the most exposed to the virus and they are key in holding our society together. Since the beginning of the pandemic, education professionals had to adapt and change their teaching methods. They had to show infinite resilience to maintain the relationship with their students which is at the heart of their mission.

Being at the frontline comes with its challenges and ensuring the rights, as well as the health and safety of all teachers should be the priority of all governments. Today, as always, ETUCE stands with its member organisations in their demands for healthy and safe working conditions in the education sector and the recovery of this essential profession beyond the pandemic.

Labour Day is a crucial moment to celebrate working people and most importantly, to ensure that they are treated as they deserve to be and rewarded for the fairer and more democratic society they contribute to build. This is the main goal of ETUCE and all our member organisations in Europe.

Teachers, you have our profound recognition and gratitude for all the work that you are doing, every day, for the future of young people in Europe and our society as a whole. Today and every day, we stand in solidarity with you.