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EI claimed that the Court decision was not based on a proper examination of the facts and was ultimately politically motivated. EI also has said that it ‘deplores a clear violation of ILO (International Labour Organisation) Convention No. 87, ratified by Ethiopia in 1963, which states clearly that workers’ and employers’ organisations shall not be subjected to dissolution or suspension by an administrative authority.’ Members of the ETA have been continually harassed and thrown in prison for many years - ETA Deputy General Secretary Assefa Maru was killed and former President Taye Woldesmiat was detained for six years. EI and NEAR urge all members to write appeals calling on the Ethiopian authorities to extend proper trade union rights to teachers in the public sector.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Education International and NEAR ask that you please send appeals:
- Expressing deep concern about the judicial dissolution of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA).
- Urging the government to extend proper trade union rights to all teachers in the public sector.
- Deploring the continual mistreatment and harassment of former members of the ETA. * You may wish to use the following sample letter, provided by Education International:
SAMPLE LETTER Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
PO Box 1031
Addis Ababa
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 11 552020 Excellency, [Name of your organisation] is concerned by the judicial dissolution of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA), established in 1949 and a member organisation of Education International, the global federation of teachers. Our organisation learnt with dismay the decision of the Ethiopia Supreme Court on 7 February to instruct our sister organisation, the ETA headed by Gemoraw Kassa, to hand over property, other assets, and its name - in other words, its very identity and existence - to an association which was formed in 1993 also named ETA. In the past, [Name of your organisation] denounced this ‘identity theft’. Today, our organisation deplores the judicial dissolution of the ETA and considers it is a clear violation of ILO Convention No. 87 which states clearly that ‘Workers’ and employers’ organisations shall not be liable to be dissolved or suspended by administrative authority’. In June 2007, the case of Ethiopia was discussed at the International Labour Conference. The Commission on the Application of Standards expressed ‘the firm hope that appropriate steps would be taken to ensure that teachers are fully guaranteed their right to organise and carry out legitimate trade union activities both in law and in practice without government interference and that they will no longer be subjected to detention or imprisonment for exercising their rights guaranteed under the Convention 87.’ Mr Prime Minister, [name of your organisation] urges your Government to honour and respect the ILO Convention No. 87 on the right to freedom of association, ratified by Ethiopia in 1963, and to: a) guarantee teachers in the public sector their right to organise, form trade unions and carry out legitimate trade union activities both in law and in practice; b) provide a legal framework to allow the coexistence of more than one teacher association. Excellency, you may be aware that [name of your organisation], which represents [number of] teachers and education employees in [your country], adopted a resolution on Ethiopia at the World Congress of Education International in July 2007. This resolution ‘calls upon EI affiliates to make representations to their own governments to press the Ethiopian Government to cease all actions interfering in the internal affairs of the ETA and other unions.’ My organisation will therefore inform the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Education of my country about the development affecting our sister organisation in Ethiopia. [Only if your country has a diplomatic representation in Ethiopia, otherwise delete next sentence] My organisation will also alert the diplomatic representation of my country in Ethiopia. Yours sincerely,
[Name]
[Position and Name of Organisation] APPEALS TO: Prime Minister
His Excellency Meles Zenawi
PO Box 1031
Addis Ababa
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: +251 11 55202
(the fax is often engaged, so also use surface mail and copy to the embassy) Minister of Justice
Mr. Assefa Kesito
PO Box 1370
Addis Ababa
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Fax: + 251 11 5517775, + 251 11 5520874 Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations
Ambassador Fisseha Yimer
56, rue Moillebeau
P.O. Box 338
1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 919 7029
PLEASE ALSO SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: Jonathan Travis
Programme Officer, Network for Education and Academic Rights
90 London Road,
SE1 9LN
London, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7902 7700
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7021 0881
jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org'>jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org URGENT
NEAR cannot continue without your support. NEAR depends on the generosity of people like you. To make a contribution, please:
- Send us a cheque payable to NEAR - Or make a donation by visiting www.paypal.com. Please make your donation payable to: NEAR
London South Bank University
Technopark
90 London Road
SE1 9LN, London, UK Email address: jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org'>jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org
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