TUC Conference 2013: Global attacks on trade unions are attacks on fairness, equality and social justice
Proposing a motion on attacks on trade unions at the TUC Congress in Bournemouth today, the NASUWT highlighted the violence and oppression targeted at teacher trade unionists in countries like Colombia, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Bahrain and highlighted the deep concerns of the Union about the anti-trade union legislation being promoted in the UK.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said:
“Across the globe, oppressive regimes are attacking trade unions because they stand for equality, fairness and social justice. They are the voice of ordinary working people and their activities empower working people.
“This is a situation not restricted to oppressive regimes in other countries.
“Shamefully, this includes the Coalition Government in the UK which is engaged in union-busting activities and has attacked trade unions' and workers' rights in order to serve the interests of big business and the market.
“The current assaults on teachers' unions are not random acts. They are key pieces of a carefully constructed jigsaw to enable publicly funded agencies, riddled with conflicts of interest and without any scrutiny, to marketise and privatise public education provision."
Mick Lyons, President of the NASUWT, who moved the motion, said:
“The teaching profession is under attack around the world. In many countries teachers are being faced with violence, oppression and intimidation because education is seen as a threat to corrupt governments and organisations.
“The consequences are extremely profound, not only for teachers, but also for the effect that this will have upon children and young people, and therefore upon the future direction of many countries around the world.”
