Media Advisory - Ottawa rally to support 28,000 suspended and fired Turkish teachers since failed coup

OTTAWA, Oct. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Teachers, educators and professors will hold a rally on Oct. 5, World Teachers' Day, across the street from the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, to protest against the suspension of over 28,000 teacher colleagues and tens of thousands of other public sector workers since the failed coup this summer.

The rally is being organized by the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) and the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) in response to the global call for action issued by Education International, the body representing over 32 million educators from around the world. 

Organizers hope to meet with the Ambassador to present him with a formal letter signed by the unions and organizations representing over half a million Canadian educators. The letter, addressed to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, urges him to abide by international conventions to which his country is a signatory and to reinstate the tens of thousands of educators and public sector workers who were dismissed since the failed coup on July 15.

Details of the rally:
When:	4:00 to 5:30 p.m, Wed. Oct. 5 -- World Teachers' Day
Where:	Macdonald Gardens Park located across the street from the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, 197 Wurtemberg Street
	https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Turkish+Embassy/@45.4347025,-75.6778612,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cce05174efdaa67:0x7d770561639225d7!8m2!3d45.4347025!4d-75.6756725?hl=en
Who:	CAUT Vice-President Brenda Austin-Smith,
	CTF President Heather Smith

The theme of World Teachers' Day this year is: "Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status". This year's event marks the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers.

Founded in 1920, the Canadian Teachers' Federation is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations that represent over 231,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada.

Founded in 1951, CAUT is the national voice for academic staff, representing 68,000 teachers, librarians, researchers and other academic professionals.

SOURCE Canadian Teachers' Federation

Media contacts: Francine Filion, CTF, [email protected] or 613-899-4247; Valérie Dufour, CAUT, [email protected] or 613-293-1810