On World Teachers’ Day, 5 October, education unionists from all corners of the globe gathered to pay tribute to teachers and education support personnel lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, to honour their legacy, and to demand safe working conditions in education. They also reaffirmed the need to invest in educators for quality education and sustainable societies.
PPTA Te Wehengarua and UnionAID support the workers’ fight for democracy in Myanmar.
The stop-work protest initiated by nurses and doctors two days after the recent coup in Myanmar is now a massive country-wide movement of young people, factory workers, teachers, engineers and civil society staff.
Acts of defiance include a nationwide strike on February 22nd, the noisy banging of pots and pans by neighbours when activists are seized at night, and roadblocks of ‘broken down’ cars aimed at preventing government staff getting to work.
Supporting Myanmar Railway Workers Federation since 2012
It is estimated that about 30% of public service workers have stopped working, and with the suggestion by one prominent political activist that public service workers will determine the outcome of the protest movement. Protestors are now targeting government buildings and housing to encourage employees to stop work and join the protests.