Standing up for children and educators worldwide

THE global Covid-19 pandemic has shown how interconnected our world is. What happens in one country has repercussions across the globe.

This is something the NEU and its membership have long been aware of. From international evenings hosted by NEU school groups to solidarity delegations visiting the other side of the world, our members are engaged in making a difference, at home and abroad.

A clear strategy

Every international project the union takes on is assessed against its contribution to delivering the following four key aims: n Promoting human, trade union and children’s rights across the world. Whether it is campaigning for the release of jailed union leaders, or supporting women’s rights in Iran, or for the rights of girls in Afghanistan to access education, we have a crucial role to play. n Campaigning for every child to have access to free, quality public education. This includes work from supporting campaigns such as Send My Friend to School, to opposing the aggressive growth of UK-funded, low-cost, for-profit private education in countries such as Kenya, Uganda and India. n Increasing engagement and activity among our own members, whether that is through building a campaign in their local area, participating in a solidarity delegation or becoming part of a national or international solidarity campaign. n Focusing on what we can learn from other unions internationally and how we can link our campaigns together – for example, strengthening our struggle against academisation through co-ordinating with the fight against charter schools in the US.

Making a real difference

This work makes a difference on a number of fronts. For example, for Cuban teachers who live under the restrictions of an illegal US blockade of their country, which deprives their classrooms of vital resources. Each year the NEU organises a solidarity delegation to Cuba to take classroom resources and to learn and speak about the Cuban education system.

Niurka María González Orberá, the elected general secretary of the Cuban education union SNTECD (pictured above), recently wrote to us, saying: “On behalf of our workers and those affiliated to us we want to thank the NEU for its presence and the help our country has received from the solidarity campaign in breaking the wall of silence.”

It also makes a real difference to our members. Daisy, a member in London, says: “Involvement in international solidarity work galvanised me to become more active in the NEU and apply to become an international solidarity officer for my district. I have been inspired not just to fight for change in this country but to promote solidarity with our colleagues around the world.”

Lucy, an Oxfordshire member, says: “International solidarity work made me really understand the importance of union activism. I’ve presented at local meetings, spoken at the Latin America conference in London and had two articles published – things I previously never would have considered doing.”

Lucy went on to become vice-president, and then joint secretary, for her district.

There are multiple opportunities to get involved in our solidarity work – for example, by supporting the Viva la Educación campaign that the union is running jointly with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. This aims to raise £100,000 for two shipping containers of educational materials for Cuba, to be sent off following our annual conference this year. To find out more about how you can help raise funds, visit vivaeducacion.org.uk

Solidarity without borders

Solidarity is a two-way process – our international work supports students, educators and trade unionists across the world, but it also strengthens our own union.

The principle of solidarity on which our movement is founded should know no borders. The NEU can be proud of its work standing up for education, children and educators in every corner of the globe.

n Read On the Global Stage, which documents the international work of the union in 2022, at neu.org.uk/media/24121/view n Get more involved or find out about becoming an international solidarity officer for your district at neu.org.uk/international or email international@neu.org.uk