International Solidarity Magazine (Spring 2020)

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UNITEDWE STANDThe NASUWT has undertaken a major review of itsinternational strategic aims and objectives,producing a comprehensive document that willguide its work over the next four years.The Union is committed to meeting the needs and concernsof members by taking action at home and abroad toadvance rights at work, to secure decent working conditionsand to raise the professional status of teachers.The NASUWT International Strategy is an integral part of theUnion’s response to the needs of its members and its futuregrowth.Our commitment to solidarity, democracy andinternationalism is key to our values and objectives as aUnion because we believe that united we stand and dividedwe fall.Around the world, we are witnessing fundamental humanand trade union rights under attack.In many countries, we have seen democracy being thwartedby those intent on removing, disappearing, jailing andmurdering any opposition in order to freely pursue neoliberalagendas.As the evidence from the ITUC Global Rights Indexconfirms, the situation for workers’ rights is getting worserather than better.In the UK, workers and unions are working to resist: theundermining and weakening of democratic rights andinstitutions; poverty and the widening of social andeconomic inequality; the rising tide of prejudice and hatredon our streets; and the damaging impact of austerity on theright to decent jobs and living standards.Education and independent trade unions are the bestantidote to anti-democratic and authoritarian regimesaround the world. Teachers and trade unions know thatdemocracy is not broken, but it is up to trade unions todefend it. We do that best by working together, as we willcontinue to do with our trade union partners in countriesaround the world, from Algeria to Zimbabwe.AN INJURY TO ONEWe know that an injury to teachers anywhere in the world isan injury to teachers everywhere. Our engagement withtrade unions around the world also confirms that many ofthe measures being used to the detriment of teachers in theUK have also been inflicted on teachers in many othercountries. Therefore, we must do whatever we can tomaintain and strengthen our solidarity work with tradeunions and our other partners at home and abroad in theinterests of our members.16DEMOCRACY UNDER FIRE• 85% of countries have violated the right to strike;• 80% of countries have violated the right to collectivebargaining;• the number of countries which exclude workers fromthe right to establish or join a trade union increasedfrom 92 in 2018 to 107 in 2019;• countries where workers were arrested and detainedincreased from 59 in 2018 to 64 in 2019;• workers had no, or restricted, access to justice in 72%of countries;• authorities impeded the registration of unions in 59% ofcountries.A WORLD OF DIFFERENCEThe NASUWT international strategic activity has thefollowing aims:• to defend the human and trade union rights of teachersin the UK and around the world;• to build the capacity of teacher trade unions in othercountries to operate freely, independently, inclusivelyand democratically to enable them to advocateeffectively on behalf of their members at home;• to secure the goal of universal access to free, qualityeducation (i.e qualified and quality teachers, qualityteaching tools and resources, and quality learningenvironments which are safe and secure) for all childrenand young people.NASUWT POLICY PRIORITIES• Women and girls’ rights• Securing LGBTI rights• Education for refugees• Teachers’ mental health• Official development assistance (ODA) – ‘meeting the0.7% Commitment and Recognising Importance ofEducation’• School leadership• Modern day slavery• Protect and strengthen public education andguarantee the fundamental right of every child to afree, quality education.
‘WHEN WOMEN AREORGANISED, EVERYONE WINS’The NASUWT was invited by the Independent EducationUnion of Australia (IEU) to speak about its work to increase therepresentation of women in leadership positions.National Official for Equality and Training Jennifer Moseswent to the IEU Women and Leadership BOLD Conference,held in Sydney, Australia.The theme of the Conference was ‘Building Our LeadershipDevelopment’ and it was attended by IEU women membersfrom across Australia.Discussions focused on the concept of leadership, the gaps ofwomen in leadership positions with unions, including the IEU,and the need to take action, particularly as three quarters ofall education staff in Australia are female.A panel debate heard from Ms Moses, who spoke about keyareas of work for the NASUWT.She highlighted the Union’s programme of work on increasingthe participation of women, and our campaigns on sexualharassment in the workplace, including supporting theInternational Labour Organization (ILO) Convention onviolence and harassment.The work the NASUWT is doing to end the disgustingpractice of ‘upskirting’, and its support for two members inNorthern Ireland who were subjected to this form of abuse,was highlighted.The success of the NASUWT Womens’ ConsultationConferences, and how it can provide safe spaces for womenmembers to discuss issues and empower them to growtogether, was praised.Ms Moses said: “I was delighted to be invited to be a part ofthe BOLD Conference, giving the NASUWT the opportunityto share ideas and learn lessons from inspiring women tradeunionists in Australia.“When women are organised, everyone wins.”17
Page 1 and 2: InternationalSpring 2020www.nasuwt.
Page 3 and 4: Contents11Jalila Al-Salman has rece
Page 5 and 6: STOP THE ATTACKS!RED-TAGGING OF TEA
Page 7 and 8: PROGRESS ON SDGs inUK UNDERMINEDUK
Page 9 and 10: CALL TO WIN ‘VICTORIES’FOR TRAD
Page 11 and 12: Award forBahraini tradeunion leader
Page 13 and 14: The 2019 World Congress took place
Page 15: Mental Health Crisis HighlightedTea
Page 19 and 20: BUSHFIRES HIGHLIGHT NEED FORCLIMATE
Page 21 and 22: “Grants were being used to set up
Page 24: World Teachers' DayDemocracy has to

International Solidarity Magazine (Spring 2020)

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