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chinatimes
Joined: 27 May 2012
Posts: 478
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 Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 12:19 pm Post subject: Chinese Politics of School Disputes Yadda Yadda Yadda |
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I am currently having some problems with my school and not quite sure if I am being fired, if they want me to quit, or simply they want me to teach less classes and not pay for them. Also, I noticed I haven't been paid yet. We are supposed to be paid on the 10th.
What leverage does a teacher have to collect on unpaid pages in China? Also, if I am "fired" is it easier to get another job than if I quit?
I understand the business about the release letter, but if I were fired, and the paperwork was filled out could I come back to China in a month or so and due the whole process over again in a different area?
This is the first time a school hasn't paid anything. It could be a simple mistake if they forgot to make a payment. So, I am not too worried at this point even though there are other obvious problems.
So far, I have been able to leave schools amicably and get a letter of release but 2 teachers have already left without any notice or had a dispute with the principal. They like to threaten teachers at this school, which is why I am trying to play it cool and not escalate things. There is a holiday coming up so I don't think they want to hire another teacher. I am talking other teachers here and so far no one is taking over my classes.
Today, they put up a wall. They didn't want to talk to me and told me not to come to classes today. They said nothing about tomorrow though. |
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rogerwilco
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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What type of school ?
Are they chasing away the FT's before the contract ends so that they do not need to pay the airfare reimbursement ?
| chinatimes wrote: |
Today, they put up a wall. |
Literal or metaphorical ? |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| rogerwilco wrote: |
Today, they put up a wall.
Literal or metaphorical ? |
Come on, it's China. In 3 hours they can have a 5 foot brick wall that is 100 yards long built anywhere |
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rogerwilco
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| kungfuman wrote: |
| rogerwilco wrote: |
Today, they put up a wall.
Literal or metaphorical ? |
Come on, it's China. In 3 hours they can have a 5 foot brick wall that is 100 yards long built anywhere |
I forgot to use my irony smiley  |
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xiguagua
Joined: 09 Oct 2011
Posts: 768
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Why you? Why you're the only one to have this problem and not the other FT's (or did you mean the other teachers that are not taking over your classes are Chinese?)? Something happen that you're not telling us?
Be persistent. The more you hassle them, the more they have to acknowledge you. Obviously, you shouldn't resort to being a jerk or giving them a reason to fire you, just be persistent in asking about whats going on with your pay.
If they outright refuse to pay, you can inform them they are breaching contact and you will contact the proper authorities. This can be a bluff, or it can be for real. I always think it's better as a bluff as long as you're willing to escalate it if they call you out. |
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chinatimes
Joined: 27 May 2012
Posts: 478
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If they outright refuse to pay, you can inform them they are breaching contact and you will contact the proper authorities. |
This not a good idea with this school. They don't think this way. They are the ones who threaten. So, if I stand up to them, they will just ignore it. It's either go through some process to collect or if it isn't possible move on.
If I have to move on, I already know the need for a letter of release. I will expand on this with another comment you made.
| Quote: |
| Why you? Why you're the only one to have this problem and not the other FT's |
Let's see, there is supposed to be 6 main teachers. 1 left shortly after getting paid, another also left a few days after the next pay period. They told him he had to pay 20,000 or they wouldn't give a release letter. This is the third and I haven't received mine yet. There is already talk from 2 other teachers that they will leave and one is looking to work at another school. These are part time teachers added to the six. So there are about 2-4 teachers who have a "stable" position.
| Quote: |
| Something happen that you're not telling us? |
Whole myriad of things. So far in 2.5 months 2 teachers have left, apartments have been worked on while teachers were put in hotels, floor is falling apart, bathrooms had to be rebuilt because the floor tiling was flat making water rise making a pool, plugged toilets because their piping is too narrow, no resources at the school, students not obeying teachers, running around, then getting injured and parents complained to the school.
Today, the computer wasn't hooked up and the projector screen wouldn't come down. Finally when it was set up 15 minutes later a manager I am having problems with blamed me for not starting class earlier. I told her about this and she said I wasted 15 minutes of class time. We don't get along, other Chinese teachers wait till after class if they have something to say.
The school promised older classes to all teachers but when we arrived they said we had to teach pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade.
Is that enough fun for you? None of the teachers like it here. I haven't heard one that says they really like it. They all are discussing if/thens to quitting themselves.
However, if the school doesn't complain, I don't mind it. I do my thing and then I leave. If the school wants more preparation on my part then they need to do it on their end too. |
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rogerwilco
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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When does your contract end ?
Can you tolerate staying till the end of the contract ?
You will need both a recommendation and release letter when you leave.
If you have an FEC, your school will also need to provide a cancellation of the FEC letter to your new school so that they can apply for your new FEC.
Sent you a PM. |
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muffintop
Joined: 07 Jan 2013
Posts: 803
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 12:49 am Post subject: |
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Your salary is 5 days late? Stop teaching. Right now.
Any school who gives even half a crap about their teachers would inform them of any issues regarding salary. Your school has said nothing to you. Do not bother to ask what them why your salary is late, it is not your problem and you'd not likely get the truth. Ask them directly when the issue will be resolved. Tell them you are prepared to begin teaching again on that date if your salary has been taken care of.
As far as collecting monies owed to you...you have little recourse. You could try going through SAFEA I guess... |
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chinatimes
Joined: 27 May 2012
Posts: 478
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 5:28 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Any school who gives even half a crap about their teachers would inform them of any issues regarding salary. |
I agree but at many of these schools there is one person who does the communicating with the teacher/teachers.
That person was not at the school for this time. This morning they arrived and were apparently informed about my bank account. I talked to them and it was deposited this morning.
While I agree a school should inform teachers, sometimes a school will follow "procedure" and forget to think outside the box. Do what your immediate boss tells you only.
I find it interesting that they owned up to this but do not want me to continue teaching. It seems like they want me on standby until next week or so. Apparently, there is a Friday event, teachers are not supposed to teach. Maybe they don't want any problems. I am not sure. This school is kind of strange in that the head of a department usually talks direct and frank with me.
These people are running around like chickens with their head cut off. They don't know anything because the only person who can wave their magical wand and make decisions is the principal. Everyone else is too occupied to ask the principal, but yet they have time to talk with the recruiter. |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| ^ So typical of many "businesses" in China. Especially when the boss micromanages everything or only one person is in charge of something - when they are gone no one has a clue. |
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5h09un
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 140
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| Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 12:52 am Post subject: |
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assuming you're here with the right documents (z visa ---> residency permit), i recommend getting into contact with your local chapter of the foreign experts bureau. they will contact the school on your behalf and this will probably scare them straight. schools are supposed to adhere to their contracts and they can be fined or lose their privilege to hire foreign teachers (and therefore make almost any money whatsoever) if they don't.
schools that threaten their teachers bank on the fact that you don't know chinese and you don't know how to get help. when they find themselves surprised (which they will when they get a call from an SAFEA representative), they usually take the path of least resistance and try to solve everything as peacefully as possible. i know this having been in a similar situation twice myself in two different provinces.
just figure out what you want, tell the SAFEA what's happening (or get a chinese friend to do it for you because the people who work in these offices usually can't speak english), get all of your necessary paperwork and find a new job. don't stick around any longer and make all of this information available to the other full-time workers so that they know what their options are.
that phone call will really clear the air. you'll be amazed. |
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ecubyrd
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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| xiguagua wrote: |
| Why you? Why you're the only one to have this problem and not the other FT's (or did you mean the other teachers that are not taking over your classes are Chinese?)? Something happen that you're not telling us? |
Really, again? chinatimes quite possibly has the worst luck of any person ever or something else is amiss given the track record of his/her ESL career. |
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