World Federation of Teachers Unions | |
Federation Internationale Syndicale de L'Enseignement | |
![]() | |
Founded | 1949 |
---|---|
Key people |
|
Affiliations | WFTU |
Website | wftufise |
The World Federation of Teachers Unions (French : Federation Internationale Syndicale de L'Enseignement FISE) is the Trade Union International (TUI) branch of the World Federation of Trade Unions representing educators.
The FISE was founded in Paris in July 1946 as a merger of the International Trade Secretariat of Teachers and l'Internationale des Travailleurs de l’Enseignement (ITE), with the participation of the American Education Association. [1] In 1951 a group of unions split off and founded the International Federation of Free Teachers Unions. [2]
During the 1980s it cooperated with the International Federation of Teachers Unions (then affiliated with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions), the World Federation of Educators (affiliated with the World Confederation of Labour) and the World Federation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession. [3]
FISE is an organization with consultative status with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). [4] It has had its position within UNESCO since at least 1985. [5]
FISE takes actively part in the Worker’s Group of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as in conferences of all of the above international organisations. During the previous period it actively participated in most activities of the WFTU and took initiatives which strengthened the renown and the strength of the organisation. In 2013 it organized an international conference in Brussels on “the role of teachers today, today’s school, public education, democracy in education” and published a book with the proceedings. It held meetings with trade unionists teachers from different countries and unions: Cuba, Germany, Egypt, Palestine, Greece, Italy, Mexico, etc. FISE publishes every year announcements and posters useful for every trade union, concerning the International Workers’ May Day (May 1), the International Teachers Day, the International Women's Day (March 8), the Day of the Anti-fascist Victory of Peoples (May 9), the day against violence towards women, against child labour, for the refugees, the xenophobia and racism, and other relevant topics or subjects of commemoration. It particularly focuses on the expression of concrete solidarity. It denounced the killings and police attacks against the Mexican teachers. One of the most important actions that FISE undertook in Greece was the solidarity campaign for the children of Palestine, entitled "a notebook for GAZA". Many students, parents, parents' associations, cultural associations, women's associations, responded to the invitation of FISE and gathered materials. They organized theatrical performances in which the ticket was two notebooks or other school supplies. Discussions have been held by teachers to students on the situation in Palestine. Painting exhibitions on the Palestinian matter were organised, as well as other initiatives, too. [6] In 2017 FISE also launched a support campaign for Yemeni children [7] and protests against the war in Yemen. [8]
The organization's highest body is the Statutory Conference, formerly called the World Conference of Teachers. Originally annual events, they were held at irregular intervals in the 1950s and now are constitutionally mandated to be held every four years. [9] [10] Between meetings of this conference the organization is headed by an Administrative Committee which meets at least once a year. [11] [12] Day to operations are directed by a Bureau which consists of the General Secretary, President, Vice-President and Secretariat, who are ex-officio members of the Administrative Committee. [13]
FISE was originally headquartered in Paris but was expelled in 1952 for "fifth column activities". It then moved to the Soviet sector of Vienna, but was expelled, again, in February 1956. The location of the headquarters immediately after the expulsion from Vienna is unclear, though FISEs' journal Teachers of the World was published from 10 Rue de Solférino, Paris 7ème. [14] In 1978 its headquarters is reported at Wilhelm Wolff Strasse 21, East Berlin 111. [15] It was at the same address in 1985. [16] Its current headquarters is at 6/6 Kalicharan Ghosh Road, 700 050, Kolkata, India. [17] After the 18th Congress, FISE was located in Mexico, [18] then after the 19th, it moved to Hyderabad, India. [19]
The first six conferences were called "World Conferences of Teachers". They were denoted "Statutory Conferences" since at least 1985: [20] [21]
In August 1956 FISE was reported to have seven million members in 34 countries. [25] By the 1978 this had grown to over 16 million in 74 organizations in 50 countries. [26] In 1985 the group claimed 20 million members in 121 organizations in 82 countries. [27] As of 2009 FISE claimed over 26 million members within 156 trade unions in 40 countries including France, Greece, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Congo, Ethiopia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, Togo, Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Bangladesh, China, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Yemen. [28]
By 1978 the FISE had two regional federations, the Confederation of American Teachers and the Federal of Arab Teachers Syndicates. [29] As of 2009 there are four regional affiliates - Confederation of American Educators, Federation of Teachers Organizations of Central America, Federation of Arab Teachers and the Federation of University Workers Unions of Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico [30] Since 2012 one Vice-president of FISE is elected for each continent. On the basis of the Vice-President, there is one Regional Office per continent. [31]
In 1978 the following organizations were affiliated with FISE: [32]
The FISE published a quarterly Teachers of the World in English, French and German with "separate" Latin American Spanish and Japanese editions. By the 1980s this publication carried a "pedagogical supplement" financed by UNESCO. [33] [34] Another bulletin was published 8 times a year and was variously called Educators International Courier or International Teachers News. It was published in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Portuguese and Arabic. [35]
FISE still publishes Teachers of the World quarterly in English as well as the FISE Information Letter eight times a year in French, English, Spanish, Russian, German, Portuguese, Arabic. [36]
FISE also submitted a nomination for the 2018 edition of the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education (GWE) to UNESCO. [37]
The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is an international federation of trade unions established in 1945. Founded in the immediate aftermath of World War Two, the organization built on the pre-war legacy of the International Federation of Trade Unions as a single structure for trade unions world-wide, following the World Trade Union Conference in London, United Kingdom.
The Centrale des syndicats du Québec is the third biggest trade union in Quebec, Canada, by membership.
Education International (EI) is a global union federation (GUF) of teachers' trade unions consisting of 401 member organizations in 172 countries and territories that represents over 30 million education personnel from pre-school through university. It is one of the world's largest sectoral global union federations.
The Democratic Organization of African Workers' Trade Union was a regional organisation of the World Confederation of Labour. It has a membership of 35 unions and eight 'pan-African federations' in 29 countries.
The Canadian Teachers' Federation is a bilingual not-for-profit organization and a national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations representing more than 365,000 elementary and secondary school teachers throughout Canada. The CTF is affiliated with Education International.
Trade unionism is a powerful force in the politics, economy, and culture of Senegal, and was one of the earliest trades union movements to form in Francophone West Africa.
Confédération générale du travail du Burkina is a revolutionary national trade union centre in Burkina Faso. Bassolma Bazié the general secretary of CGT-B.
Trade unions in Guinea were historically important - having played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement - and in recent years have again assumed a leading role.
The World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW) is an international federation of scientific associations. It is an NGO in official partnership with Unesco. Its goal is to be involved internationally in all aspects of the role of science, the rights and duties of scientists and their social responsibility. According to some opinions, it was a Cold War-era communist front. The group was said to be composed by a majority of scientists who supported communism, though it, was not explicitly an admission criterion in the direct sense. The federation opposed nuclear tests conducted by any states.
The Trade Union International Public Service and Allied is a section of the World Federation of Trade Unions representing public sector workers.
The Trade Unions International of Building, Wood, Building Materials and Industries, also known as the Trade Unions International of Construction, Wood, Building Materials and Industries, or by its French acronym UITBB is a Trade Union International affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions.
The Trade Union International of Workers in Commerce was a trade union international affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions.
The Trade Unions International of Chemical, Oil and Allied Workers was a trade union international affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions. It was often known by its French initials, ICPS.
The Trade Union International of Workers in the Metal Industry was a trade union international affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions.
The Trade Union International of Agricultural, Forestry and Plantation Workers was a trade union international affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions.
The International Federation of Trade Unions of Audio-Visual Workers was a global union federation bringing together unions representing film and television technicians and related workers.
The International Federation of Secondary Teachers was a global union federation bringing together trade unions representing secondary school teachers.
The International Federation of Christian Miners' Unions was a global union federation bringing together trade unions representing workers in the mining industry.