Job Discussion Forums

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

How I understand it at this stage is that whatever your contract says is it. There is no support outside of what you have signed.

Even SAFEA will not support a copy of its own contract. It has to be an original issued by them.

How I see it, is that we are now into work place bargaining for whatever we can get somewhat like workers from the Philippines. Our previous status that we held by being from a Western country seems to be a thing of the past.

I had a good friend from Indonesia and I once asked him how much he could get someone killed for in his home country. He told me half an imported cigarette. Back in good old Oz I asked a kid that was in for murder where I worked how much he would bump someone for and he said $20, so making a big noise is not the best thing to do sometimes especially in Asia.

SocratesSon2 · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 134

For those of you who think Darren Russell was not murdered you might be suffering from head stuck in the sand syndrome. Please check out this link as well as the pathology report done on him. He most certainly was attacked and killed. The only question that remains is by whom? Check out this site, it will answer many questions.

http://www.whiterabbitsmom.org/

As you will see on this site he was murdered, and you can even view the pathology report itself which says so. The family recently had his body autopsied, which was impossible at the time his body was returned due to financial difficulties.

IanMWashburn

Thank you especially Hairuo and China.Pete for your helpful replies.

And an extra special thanks to Teatime of Soul, for your insightful and erudite response. (It's so so nice to hear someone using English in all of it's creative and evocative power.)

I'll consider carefully all that you guys have said.

Will keep this forum posted if, when and as things develop.

Unless of course I meet my maker first.

("I'm not afraid of dying. I just don't want to be there when it happens." Woody Allen)

Later.

IanMWashburn · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject: Please stay on topic...Thank you!

Please stay on topic...Thank you!

redpiston · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 338

Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

To repeat the only way to prevent this situation and I am guilty of it now at the end of my contract, is to make sure there is a continuation of employment at the place you want to work at. If you are the only one at your school who is a foreigner and you never met the foreigner you replaced it is easy to rip you off. What is the problem is that many foreigners come here and take the side of the school in all disputes no matter how guilty the school is.

patsy · Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 179 Location: china

I think a good firm handshake and a pack of expensive cigarettes will be much more useful that your safea contract.

Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

And when you have landed the post , the ability to drink copious amounts of baiju will ensure a happy stay .

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Unfortunately, I think the original poster was much too vague. How you go about things differ drastically depending on the situation. Courts are seldom used, are rarely the way to resolve issues. For instance, if you went to the police about a matter, it would be near impossible to get them to pass information to a "district attorney" or make an arrest. This is almost entirely the control of the party.
Mediation is the standard practice. If mediation between the two sides fail, then it usually means a "guanxi" standoff. (laowai have none)
If it does not directly involve you (for instance if it involves another teacher) you'll be making a huge mistake to get involved. In the Chinese frame of mind you are now the instigator causing dissension and friction. You, not either of the other two parties, are at fault
If it is your own contract you are talking about, I have found the provincial waishiban (SAFEA, kind of) to be willing to mediate, even suggest to the school to fulfill it's contract. But if the school resists strongly, about the only venue is filing an action in the arbitration court, hire a lawyer. They will seek to persuade the school if they think you are clearly right, but they will not wish tothreaten the school. After all they have to live with the school for many years. Even if you are married to a Chinese, and have worked here forever, in their mind you are just a brief interloper.
I have found the PSB to be unbiased. They will delight in holding both sides of an dispute under the torch, a very heated torch. They are not interested in being bothered by your mess (this does not mean they are not helpful, just their view of their duties is not the western view)

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589