Conadu

Deep in the heart of Buenos Aires, on Pasco Street, stands Conadu. Conadu isn’t just a building. It’s the beating heart of Argentina’s university teachers, the Federacion Nacional de Docentes Universitarios. This organization represents over 45% of the country’s university professors and researchers. Conadu has grown alongside the expansion of Argentina’s university system, evolving from 10 associations to 34, spanning the entire nation. Conadu champions several core values. They advocate for a public university system that is free, democratic, inclusive, and embraces a feminist and Latin American perspective. They fight for fair wages, better working conditions, and professional development for their members. Conadu also supports student access and successful graduation from higher education. They promote research, knowledge production, science, and technology, linking universities with the state and society to drive national development. For over 20 years, Conadu pushed for the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Teachers, finally achieved on June 1, 2015. This agreement established a baseline of rights for university teachers nationwide. Conadu continues to fight for its full implementation. They play a key role in national salary negotiations, impacting teacher training, working conditions, and the rights of university education workers. Beyond salary negotiations, Conadu stands alongside researchers in preserving Argentina’s scientific and technological systems. They carry the torch of the 2020 Science and Technology Plan. They’ve been instrumental, along with scientific groups, in the fight to preserve and develop CONICET, INTI, and other science and technology organizations that contribute to national development and technological sovereignty. Conadu also houses the Institute for Studies and Skill Enhancement (IEC). The IEC conducts research, publishes reports, and hosts seminars. They work with academic units, scientific leaders, and research centers. Their mission is to strengthen teacher training and build knowledge about the rights of higher education workers and the vital role of public universities in national and Latin American development. Conadu’s commitment extends beyond its members. Affiliated with the Central de Trabajadores de la Argentina (CTA), they advocate for the labor rights of all workers. They champion a just democracy, national sovereignty, human rights, and equality across genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. They stand in solidarity with unions and social movements fighting for these rights. Internationally, Conadu is part of Education International (EI), the world’s largest education union sector. Within Latin America, they participate in the Higher Education Coordination of Education International for Latin America (IEAL). Through these international alliances, Conadu promotes the right to education, resisting privatization and commercialization efforts. So, as you stand before Conadu, remember, it’s more than bricks and mortar. It’s the embodiment of the struggles and triumphs of Argentina’s educators, shaping the future of education and the nation.