ETUCE - European Trade Union Committee for Education

05/10/2026

Today, on World Teachers’ Day, ETUCE and MEP Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), take a look at the reality facing teachers across Europe.

Sixty years after the adoption of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, how are we doing on professional autonomy, training opportunities, salaries and working conditions?

Watch Nela Riehl and ETUCE European Director Jelmer Evers assess the current state of the teaching profession and explain why Europe needs an ambitious Teachers’ Agenda.

02/10/2026

Almost 50% of lower secondary teachers in Europe experience work-related stress, while 24% report that their work negatively affects their mental health.

At a European Parliament event on psychosocial risks at work, ETUCE European Director Jelmer Evers highlighted the growing pressures facing teachers, academics and other education workers, from excessive workload and staff shortages to violence, harassment and the effects of constant connectivity.

ETUCE is urging the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States to advance work on a legislative framework for psychosocial risks and to put education workers' wellbeing at the centre of efforts to address Europe’s teacher shortage crisis.

Read the full article: https://t.ly/QROq0

30/09/2026

Education and skills are increasingly shaping the European Semester, but addressing skills shortages starts with addressing teacher shortages.

At the ESSDE Working Group meeting on 25 September, ETUCE stressed that investment in education must be recognised as a strategic long-term investment. Quality education systems depend on well-supported teachers, fair salaries, strong professional autonomy, and sustained public investment.

ETUCE also underlined the importance of meaningful consultation with education trade unions throughout the European Semester process, ensuring that the realities faced by teachers and education workers are reflected in policy decisions.

Read more: https://t.ly/djQG2

24/09/2026

Students are not for data mining.

A leaked proposal currently being discussed in the context of the Digital Omnibus negotiations would introduce a new Article 88bis into the GDPR. The proposal would allow AI developers to use personal data on the basis of "legitimate interest" for the development and operation of AI systems.

For ETUCE, this is unacceptable.

The proposal would weaken important safeguards for students and education workers while creating new opportunities for commercial exploitation of educational data. Information collected in schools, universities, and other educational institutions should serve educational purposes, not be repurposed to train AI systems for commercial gain.

Learners, families, teachers, academics and other education personnel must be able to trust that their personal data is handled responsibly and protected by strong legal safeguards.

ETUCE is calling on EU Member States to reject the proposed Article 88bis and defend children's rights, workers' rights, and the fundamental principles of European data protection.

Read our full statement:

The trade union federation and social partner for education in Europe Education International - Europe

21/09/2026

Deadline Extended: Share Your Story of Educator-Led AI

Are you a teacher, education support professional, academic or researcher who has developed, contributed to developing, or used AI to address real educational needs?

ETUCE is looking for educator-led practices from across Europe that show how AI can support teaching and learning while remaining grounded in educational values, equity, inclusion and professional autonomy.

By sharing your experience, you can help demonstrate that AI in education can be shaped by educators and learners, not only by commercial interests.

Selected examples will be featured in ETUCE's European database of good practices on AI in education, and the four most relevant contributions will be invited to present their work at the European Conference on AI and Education in Lisbon in November 2026.

Submit your contribution here:

The trade union federation and social partner for education in Europe Education International - Europe

17/09/2026

09/09/2026

Women's health should not be an invisible issue at work.

Ahead of the Education International World Women's Conference, the ETUCE Equality Working Group has developed a new Checklist for Collective Bargaining on Women's Health at Work in the Education Sector.

The Checklist helps education trade unions address women's health through social dialogue and collective bargaining, covering issues such as menstruation, reproductive health, pregnancy, miscarriage, menopause, and gender-specific occupational risks.

It offers practical recommendations to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive workplaces across all education sectors.

Women's health is a workplace issue. Read more about the Checklist and its recommendations here:

The trade union federation and social partner for education in Europe Education International - Europe

08/09/2026

PISA 2025 paints a concerning picture for education systems across Europe, with student outcomes in reading, mathematics and science reaching their lowest levels since the assessment began.

But beyond the rankings, the results highlight something education unions have long argued: quality education depends on qualified, supported and valued teachers.

PISA confirms that teacher support is the strongest in-school predictor of student achievement, while teacher shortages remain a widespread challenge across OECD countries.

That's why ETUCE is calling on European and national policymakers to put the teaching profession at the centre of education policy and advance the priorities of the EU Teachers' Agenda.

Read our full reaction:

The trade union federation and social partner for education in Europe Education International - Europe

04/09/2026

A new European Commission report confirms that improving teachers’ salaries is essential, but it is not enough on its own to attract and retain teachers.

The report highlights that supportive working environments, reduced workload and stress, professional recognition, and teachers’ well-being all play a key role in making the profession more attractive. It also shows that teacher salaries in many European countries continue to lag behind those of similarly qualified workers.

As Europe faces ongoing teacher shortages, ETUCE welcomes the report’s clear message: strengthening the teaching profession requires comprehensive investment in both pay and working conditions.

Read the full article:

The trade union federation and social partner for education in Europe Education International - Europe

03/09/2026

Good news! Our ETU4REF MOOC is now available in Spanish!

The course "Education Trade Unions for Migrants and Refugees" helps education trade unions strengthen their work on the inclusion of refugees and migrants in and through education.

Built on examples from ETUCE member organisations across Europe, the MOOC offers practical resources, videos, readings, and peer learning opportunities to support inclusive education, trade union renewal, and the attractiveness of the teaching profession.

Now available in Spanish:

The trade union federation and social partner for education in Europe Education International - Europe