Job Discussion Forums

[Khrystene]

If you can read Polish here's the link to the Gazeta Wyborcza article:

http://miasta.gazeta.pl/torun/1,35576,4223226.html

I, as one of 3 Natives working at the English Dept. at UMK Torun, have lodged a complaint of discrimination against the University to the "Izba Pracy" (workplace relations or some such).

Although we do the same work as our colleagues and those natives at other universities, UMK refuses to hire us on Umowa o Pracy. They have no reason why not, other than we are not qualified enough. Yet we are teaching students to 5th year, including marking MA theses. AND if we're not qualified, as they say, then why were we hired. One of us, for 4 years, the other 2 and I 1 year. Poznan Uni doesn't do it, nor does Lodz. I dare say, it's most likely only Torun that has this tradition.

When asked, where it states that they are allowed to use this tantamount 'illegal' contract to hire us, they cannot show us or will not say.

This fight has been contained within the department by the 2 bosses we've had. And only now, in disgust are we unleashing this on the public. We feel the public has a right to know and we have a right to express our distaste and disgruntlement.

I recently asked if anyone was hired in a state institution on Umowa o Dzielo. No one replied. So from that, I presume it is only us.

It's time for these relics of laws from Communism, were overturned and new laws set in place that benefit not only the teachers but also the students. As with the high rotation of native teachers at this University, there is little consistency nor stability. And they shouldn't suffer.

I in all conscience cannot stand by and have myself disrespected by my boss nor be forced to shut up by their idle threats. We have tried every 'official' angle. To no avail. SO now, the law will see what's right and what's wrong.

Thanks for listening

[also posted to the Poland page]

[spiral78]

Good luck, Khrystene.

May I ask how the paper qualifications of the native speakers add up against the Polish staff? Will the uni be able to say that they offer Umowa O Pracy to staff with MAs, for example? Or educational credentials from within Poland only?

I don't suppose that you've got much chance of 'winning' in this case - it's really hard to come from outside and try to clarify regulations inside a country.

But if the ultimate outcome of your actions is only to clarify the standards, that would be great.

[Khrystene]

[mdk]

Dear Khrystene,

May I chip in with a story which you may or may not find pertinent.

My first year teaching in a large country bordering Poland, was at a large polytechnical university. There was a colleague who got cross-ways with the University about how they chose to run their university. Long, story short he got run out of town and ended up in Vilnius licking his wounds after a couple of weeks.

Well, he turned around and brought suit against the university in the oblast court and won a judgement of $1,000 (whoopdedo!). It was a real cause celebre in town and I well remember the newspaper stories accusing him of being an american agent provocateur and spy. The following summer there was a ukase from Moscow about hiring foreign teachers and I had to be paid under the table all the next year. it was a boocoo nuisance.

I am convinced the reason I did not get packed off to Vilnius too, was that I made it clear from the start that I felt I was an employee and had no interest in re-negotiating my contract in mid term or messing with the way they ran their school. I think the administration appreciated that. Once I sign a teaching contract, I will not break it as long as they don't ask me to drink poison or something. At the end of the year, if I don't like the way I was treated, I will go somewhere else.

I wish you luck in settling your dispute with your employer. Is there any sort of a mediation service you can use? I wish old D*** had tried that instead of putting the cat in amongst the chickens.

[Khrystene]

New link to article, in Polish though:

http://miasta.gazeta.pl/torun/1,37645,4228950.html

Mdk, thanks for your comments, but we've been trying to sort out this mess for a year. There is no room for negotiating contracts, let alone RE-negotiating. We didn't even receive our contracts till almost 3 months after we started working.

The University has stated we're not qualified, and yet we were hired there. They use loopholes to screw not only us, but the students, around.

If you'd like to read the full letter we sent to the Izba Pracy, it details our year long struggle, using OFFICIAL channels.

I don't care if I never work there again. Actually, about 3 months ago I began looking for other work in other parts of the country.

The Izba Pracy is taking this serious, as are local media, who have delt with 'hushed up' problems at the Uni for years.

We will see how it all unfolds. I don't have anything to lose, nor do I have any intention of letting go of this issue.

With the Bologna accords coming in, it will mean Polish Universities have to take a good look at what THEIR degree's are worth. There is talk that the Polish Magister is worth the same as BA Hons or just BA. I know that will piss a lot of people off, but it's all based on the workload etc. I say, the sooner the better the EU gets some standards set in place.

So, thanks again for your comments. I know the score.

[mdk]

OK, well good luck with it.

I wonder if you would take a moment and explain the Bologna accords? I guess it must be some sort of EU standardized thing - although how you would get the French, Germans, Italians and etc. all to agree to standards is a wondrous thing to contemplate.

That having been said, are you any where near Krakow? I've always heard that's the place to be in Poland.


Oh yeah. Have you ever read "Fire in the Steppes" by Sienkiwicz? I wonder what Pan Zagloba or Pan Michael would do in your situation

[Khrystene]

[mdk]

[Khrystene]

Thank you

Will keep everyone informed.