Job Discussion Forums

[NoBillyNO]

[CFTU-Beijing]

I'm China you need not worry about recording someone who has clearly cheated you and the law is on your side. Two things play in your favor; 1) "Face" and 2) "Harmony". No principal wants to see their name on Weibo or their face on our web site as a cheater. If that happens, their career is over and they will spend the rest of their career teaching special education classes.

Considering that after you collect your release letter, you will mostly likely never deal with that Principal again, you need not worry about how they feel about you recording them. In fact many teachers will tell the Principal "I am recording this conversation to make sure there are no misunderstandings when I report this problem to YOUR government and my embassy." You can go one step further and snap their photo - a tactic that may infuriate them, but one that will get your release letter delivered quickly - and for free.

Keep in mind that this is not a "theory" but a proven method used by many of our teaching colleagues with almost total success. In only once case did the principal not produce the release letter (because she was retiring in 3 weeks and did not care. But the Vice Principal did the right thing after her predecessor left).

One thing you must also be aware of. When the CFTU files complaints for teachers, it is not a single complaint. We address the complaints to three different Ministries, SAFEA, the police, the procuriate, the corruption commission, the local CPC community officer, and a proprietary contact. We also advise the teacher to write a complaint letter to their embassy, which by law must be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for investigation. When the offending principal is inundated with inquiries that she has to answer, she/he understands immediately that the problem will escalate if no resolution is made. NOBODY wants to deal with paperwork, and potential disciplinary problems especially when they may not be licensed to operate a school, or to hire foreigners.

Laugh if you like but our methods have worked quite well. Try them yourself and you will see for yourself.

Screen Print No: ESLCAFE-20.9.23.13

[CFTU-Beijing]

[chinatimes]

[NoBillyNO]

When ever anyone tells me that they have spent _________ many in China so they know the real deal I dismiss them completely.

[Bud Powell]

You don't really have to turn on your recorder on your cell phone. Just put it on the table where it can be seen.

I'm starting to come around to CFTU. I've been aware of it since at least 2009. What is being said in CFTU's posts makes sense. My only worry is that the Chinese government won't recognize it and may consider it a secret organization unless it declares itself foreign based.

What CFTU says makes sense. Go on the offensive when things get tough. Be informed, and let your PROSPECTIVE employer know that you understand a thing or two.

It's almost pointless to try to get FTs who have been in China most of their adult lives to go on the offensive or to assert themselves because they've already developed coping mechanisms that include not making waves.

Folks who are new to China put up with all kinds of BS from administrations who seem hell-bent on making FT's lives miserable and making working at the school impossible. I don't think that it's the majority of administrators, but there enough of them to cause concern. It's the newbie who needs to be informed and fore-armed, not the old hands who have already developed coping strategies, or who have been lucky enough to get screwed over time ofter time.

My only problem CFTU is its belief that the money is there for higher salaries and that many FTs are already drawing astronomical figures in salary. I've gotten above advertised salary at a public uni only once, and i pulled that off BEFORE I arrived.

As far as posting online allegations against a school, there's not much the school can do about it unless the allegations are really serious and patently and provably untrue (e,g., the FAO raped me, the school puts arsenic in the cafeteria food). By the time anyone finds out the allegations, the FT is long gone (except, of course, one of the FTs reports it to the admins before the FT gets the boot).

I've gotten only one thorough screwing since I began teaching in China, and it was bad enough for me to consider legal action. By the time I spoke to anyone, I was told, "Give up. You'll be shipped out before you can do anything about it."

I think that the gist of what CFTU is saying is that being forewarned is being forearmed. Too many newbies show up bright-eyed and thoroughly naive and are taken advantage of. Administration knows that there are more where they came from, so it doesn't care how it treats its employees or how often it lies.

I'm willing to listen to CFTU even though I disagree with some of what it says.

[chinatimes]

[CFTU-Beijing]

[Bolt]

I'd call the cops, make a criminal report, get a case no., write a complaint to my embassy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minsiter of Labor and then put it all on Weibo. Weibo is a magic word in China.