Government of Ecuador wants to overturn democratically elected rector of university

PSI’s Educational Support and Cultural Workers Network has recently learned of the alarming positions adopted by the Andean Parliament with respect to the election of the rector at the Andean University Simon Bolivar in Ecuador. We are extremely concerned with this situation.

Public Services International (PSI) represent hundreds of thousands of educational support and cultural workers (ESCW) throughout the world, many of whom work without job security, fair compensation and benefits, or recognition that the services they deliver are vital to ensuring high quality public education. The jobs of these workers are on the frontlines of the privatization and casualization struggle within the education sector, and many of these workers face challenges in pursuing their basic freedom to form a union and collectively bargain their terms and conditions of employment. The PSI ESCW Network is established to confront the challenges that these workers face throughout the world.

Therefore, we recognize and support the Guild of Teachers and Professional Employees (Gremio de Docentes y del de Funcionarios y Empleados) and its declaration in defense of the university’s autonomy. Our network respects the university’s fundamental and inalienable principle that reserves the independence of the University as an institution of knowledge and learning that should never be subordinated to the political interests of external powers. We stand in solidarity and support with the Guild of Teachers and Professional Employees and share its commitment to the defense of academic freedom and the democratic mechanisms of leadership selection at the university.

Our network recognizes the results of the democratic election of Dr. Cesar Montano, and adamantly opposes any efforts to undermine the democratic process and interfere with Dr. Montano’s rightful assumption as his duties as the university’s rector.

We share your union’s commitment to democracy and the defense of academic freedom. We extend our solidarity with your struggle to guarantee the free exercise of these rights at the university.

PSI stands with our brothers and sisters at the Andean University of Simon Bolivar and calls on all its affiliates to show their support by sending a letter of solidarity.

More information:

• See PSI’s letters of solidarity in English and Spanish

• See more of PSI’s work on Education support and cultural workers