Korean Job Discussion Forums

cornholio1 · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Location: Bupyeong

I read this site almost daily now and I see a lot of serious complaints about hagwans and what not on here. Now I am sorry I am not one of you Korea haters, but I do feel that as a teacher myself and having been screwed over by more than one hagwan, there should definitely be a foreign teacher's union in Korea. It could be used for various things such as pay, legal council, approval commitee for all hagwans in Korea, and the basic human rights stuff that we could all use here.Now I know what you're thinking, "I don't wanna pay for a stupid union. Why should I pay 50 or 100 thousand won a month/year? The school I am at is just fine, haven't had a problem as of yet." Yet being the operable word. There will come the time when you have a problem and could deffinitely use the assistance of someone with a little savvy about living and working in this country. Like my old apt, It had holes in the walls and rats the size of snow seals. That hagwan, also didn't see fit to pay my last month and my plane ticket. That's ok though, I was only working there to help a friend. I am at a good hagwan now anyhow. I could have really used the help of a low cost lawyer to get my money from them. How about a friend of mine that got fired her first day for being a little on the not so attractive side. She had to find a new job/ place to live in less than a week.
Problems such as these could be taken care of with the assistance of a good foreign teachers union. Like a comittee for approval of living quarters provided by hagwans, approving the hagwans that foreign nationals can work at within union guidelines. Providing an open forum to be heard in a court of law protesting civil rights infringements. Also it could help to put these crooked wongjang nims out of the hagwan business for ever. Send them to jail for their evil deeds. Lol a little power goes straight to the brain doesn't it? The union would also definitely provide assistance with tourism, and language interpretation. I am totally hot and bothered about this idea. If you have any input or are serious about helping to organize a union like this let me know. ok?
bye for now.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

Tom is right. To add...those of use with F visa don't need a union to protect us. Most of us know the ropes and have no problem finding a new job in a week.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

is there a reason you posted this three times

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=86697
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=86704
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/posting.php?mode=reply&t=86705 (this thread)

cornholio1 · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Location: Bupyeong

I too have an f visa. I would still however like the protection/ help of a union here and I think others would tool. Where by the way did you hear that any one on an E visa couldn't participate in any type of union? By t he way, most E - visa holders are part of a union, the Korean retirement fund and other organizations take a chunk of your "tax" money. The reason I posted three times is for those of us too busy to check more than one thread, also, I am new to the site and didn't realize if it was posting correctly or not.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

cornholio - please resize your avatar, it's much too big.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Another union thread and it hasn't even been 2 months yet. I said all that I want to say in the last one:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=82977

See you in another 2 months for the next new thread on the topic, after this one dies due to lack of motivation/follow-thru/interest.

alabamaman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

Does anyone know if people can act as proxies for other foreigners in labor disputes? If so, there could be a large black market opportunity for this type of work.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Probably no reason why you can't have a Foreign Teacher Advocacy Group. I'd be glad (F5 visa) to act as treasurer.

Seriously, what with public school teaching jobs becoming mainstream throughout Korean life, there really is a need to get working conditions all sorted out.
In fact, it's become just as wholesome in a teacher's life to find a good haggie position as much as it is to find a fair and well-managed public school position.
Schools don't run for profit, However, what's the quality like in the management of their English programs?
Perhaps private enterprise is better after all.

PS: Whose avatar is -squishing- this board?

Octavius Hite · Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

Union is out but we could have a loosely based group based offshore, say vancouver with an office in seoul to handle disputes, PR, create a uniform contract, set standards among other things. The press in korea has their press club somthing similar, more web based would work. I would love to be involved, but its going to take a lot of work and we have to convince cheap, loser esl teachers to even join, that would be the toughest part.

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

The_Conservative · Joined: 15 Mar 2007

Anyway there is NO need for a union or association or whatever.

There IS a need to give teachers ownership of their visas (as in Japan). That alone would eliminate any real need for a union or similar association. THAT'S what the pro-unionists should be lobbying for.

Octavius Hite · Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 7:17 pm Post subject:

I have, but you can't effectivly lobby without an organisation to do the legwork. So there.