Right to disconnect and better conditions for teachers in focus at ESSDE meeting
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On 26 March, ETUCE and EFEE brought together social partners in education for the latest ESSDE working group meeting in Brussels. Discussions focused on how to improve teachers’ working conditions—especially around teleworking, psychosocial risks, and the upcoming EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda.
A highlight of the meeting was the exchange with MEP Li Andersson, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. She called for stronger EU action on the right to disconnect, algorithmic management, and psychosocial risks, pointing to the urgent need to address working conditions if the EU wants to retain teachers and support public education. Andersson also criticised the growing pressure for deregulation and stressed the importance of including social partners in decision-making, particularly in areas like public procurement and the EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda.
Earlier in the day, a session on telework in education explored insights from Eurofound’s latest data alongside national experiences from Malta and Flanders. Both case studies showed efforts to build flexible working arrangements for teachers, while putting clear boundaries in place to avoid constant availability and burnout. The Belgian example is based on national legislation guaranteeing the right to disconnect, adapted to the diverse realities of Flemish schools.
The working group also continued revising the joint ETUCE-EFEE guidelines on preventing and managing psychosocial risks, as part of the APRES COVID project. ETUCE delegates drew attention to rising reports of harassment and misogyny in schools, warning that this is pushing many teachers out of the profession. EFEE underlined the importance of supportive school environments and better training to help prevent burnout.
Other agenda points included updates on current joint projects, such as Learning Schools, InclEdu4AllNeeds, and EastSD, each focused on improving inclusion, innovation, and social dialogue in education, with a focus on EU candidate countries.
As the sector prepares for new rounds of dialogue, this meeting reaffirmed a clear message: improving teachers’ working conditions must remain a top priority—now more than ever.