Job Discussion Forums

Prolix · Joined: 31 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

For anyone thinking about working at Proulex � Comlex Universidad de Guadalajara, please first do your research. There are several messages on this site (the Job Information Journal) that voice the opinions of other teachers that have worked at the Puerto Vallarta site. For the most part these are accurate accounts of what you can expect working for Proulex in Puerto Vallarta. You may have noticed that these messages are fairly dated, but by no means is the information. In fact it only gets worse. Currently there is a strong difference of opinion in the legal working status of the teaching staff of Proulex. This problem is not specific to Puerto Vallarta. Due to the amount of information that has been gathered regarding this critical issue, it isn�t logical to post it all here. If you should care to have additional information of this situation and what ultimately this could mean to you as a future teacher, current teacher or are just a curious administrator, please feel free to send an email to

[email protected]

Your interest and support is greatly appreciated.
A voice for legal, just and uncorrupted labor practice,
Prolix United Teachers Association

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

PUTA? Are you serious? Guess it's eye-catching.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I don't know what's going on there now, but a couple of years ago a teacher who came to work for me had horrors to recount about not getting paid, among other inconveniences.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I've seen negative comments on working for Proulex in the past...comments about not being paid on time. This was nearly four years ago. This past February, I visited Proulex in Guadalajara. They at least seemed to be running a normal outfit there. I connected two Canadian teachers to assignments with Proulex in Puerto Vallarta two years ago and heard nothing bad from them.

My instinct on the OP is to guess that this is about FM3s and taxation...common areas of difficulty with similar chain schools. It wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that some teachers are being given conflicting information regarding FM3 status, or are asking generally about the legalities of employment. I'm guessing of course.

wablenicamx · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Posts: 8

If you want to become informed about the situation, please write to the e-mail address given in the first post. There is too much information to put in this forum. I am one of the teachers involved in this labor dispute. It is very serious and nothing to be considered lightly. We are in the midst of a struggle that is going to cost us our jobs. Notice I said "going to" and not "may". The powers that be at Proulex have already interviewed new teachers to replace us. We are at the Puerto Vallarta site. There are many teachers in many sites and our intent is to inform everyone about what is going on so that they can make informed decisions about what they wish to do. This has nothing to do with FM3's. It has to do with payment of taxes and legal rights under Mexican Labor Law. Please send an e-mail and we will be glad to send you the appropriate information.

And what else do you call someone who is getting screwed for very little money aside from a PUTA?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Hmmm--some putas make a heck of a lot more money than EFL teachers do.

Now a puta triste (pax Garc�a M�rquez) might be a different kettle of fish. Or a puta barata.

I don't really want to hear all the grisly details, as I have probably a lot more years of experience than you do fighting this stuff in Mexico--BUT I can tell you that getting mad is not the same as getting even, and thinking of yourself as a puta barata is a low self-esteem description which you should NOT be indulging in.

In short, pull up your socks and put this behind you. Move on to something better.

wablenicamx · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Posts: 8

I'm not going to get into a debate about the word in Spanish. I do wish you would write for the info. You might learn something interesting. And we are not doing this as a vendetta. We are doing this for the benefit of all of the teachers working at this institution. It would be very easy to walk away because there is certainly more than enough work for us here. We could walk away and let things be but what happens when Immigration or Hacienda comes down on some poor teacher who is only here for a short time and innocently believes that everything is OK. Instead of being so opinionated, try checking the information and be informed.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Once you DO walk away, you will have a healthier perspective on what has happened to you.

It hurts now, and you're angry--but you should stop and think about this: Do you REALLY want to continue working for someone/an organization that has screwed you over?

And you bet, I am opinionated. I have pretty much seen it all in my 60 years, especially when I was running a BIG teachers' union in a university outside of Chicago. And in more than a dozen years in Latin America I have learned the skills necessary to walk away from bummer situations with a good chunk of money in my hands.

Perhaps if you could get out of your pit of pain and start strategizing how to cut your losses and still come out ahead, you would start to see daylight.

I am not unsympathetic--it's just that sympathy is NOT what you need right now--neither from me, nor from yourself.

wablenicamx · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Posts: 8

We are not angry. We are concerned. You are projecting. By the time you reach your age you should have more wisdom. Anger has nothing to do with this problem. Like I said...check it out. This is my last response to your posts. I have a lot better things to do besides debate whether or not you want to read the book before you draw conclusions or simply want to look at the cover then jump to them.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

You sound angry to me.

And I am not projecting. I am trying to give you the benefit of the wisdom that I do have. If you believe you are wiser, adelante!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I have requested the extra information from PUTA and have read through it. I'm not sure what to make of it. All I can say is good luck with your fight. I don't think Dave's is the venue for this issue as there appears to be misinformation on both sides. But, that's what the law will be sorting out, won't it?

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Are these teachers in the labor dispute foreigners or Mexican teachers? They or she/he stormed the forum quickly here and I lost the initial plot.
Let cooler heads prevail, at any rate.

One more question to poster wablenicamx. You were highly recommending UET in PVR and your friend Chris Zang a few short months ago. Can you confirm if your friend is still in business and if so, why he doesn't answer his email requests? Gracias

wablenicamx · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Posts: 8

First, to answer your question about if the teachers are Mexican or foreigners, we are predominately foreigners hence the concern about payment of taxes but there are some Mexican teachers at our site also that are quite concerned. We have contacted legal authorities in this struggle and also have gone to several government agencies. It appears we have right on our side. The final question will be if right will prevail over might. And about University English Teachers: I have heard from many teachers that it is a good school. As to why Chris doesn't answer his e-mails, I don't know. I'll give him a call and ask him.