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Education for Social Change: The role of Education Trade Unions in addressing sustainable environmental development

PPMI provided services to the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) with an aim to prepare trade unions to address environmental questions and climate emergency through the trade union mechanisms of social dialogue and collective bargaining. The research team:

  • identified the major challenges faced by the education sector and education workers due to the environmental and climate emergency;
  • examined the impact that climate emergency has on education trade union policies, including the provision of equal access to quality education for everyone and integration of sustainable development in education; 
  • studied the role of education trade unions in addressing those challenges through social dialogue and collective bargaining;
  • gathered a collection of good practices of education trade unions on addressing environmental issues as a social partner in education and supporter of education personnel.

The research team conducted online survey with the ETUCE member organisations and participated in two workshops to get qualitative input and feedback from key stakeholders. We analysed the findings and produced a final study report which was discussed at the final project conference. 

The work was well-received by the client as well as other organisations like UNESCO and DG EAC. The study resulted in tangible insights that the education trade unions could learn from and apply in their organisations. Especially important were the discussions on how the trade unions can strengthen social dialogue and collective bargaining for environmental sustainability and improvement of working conditions in light of climate change.