Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rumple]

Okay, a lot of folks have been saying "If ATEK doesn't do something about corrupt hagwan practices, then its worthless."

And a lot of those folks expect ATEK to come out of its corner swinging, else they are going to write ATEK off.

This is why I think you need to have faith in what they are doing:

http://www.korealawblog.com/entry/what_to_do_when_you_have_to_sue

If you read this article, it does a good job of explaining why it is important that whoever you are planning to sue doesn't know you're coming. You don't threaten legal action, you just attach their assets and THEN litigate. Legal blindsiding is the way its done here.

ATEK may be very well planning action against organizations that are causing problems for foreign teachers. They have more than one law firm working with them now. But if they are planning action, they can't rattle their sabers right now, or that will weaken their attack.

As membership grows, you can bet that a good number of members are going to be people that have been burned in hagwans. And those people are going to elect leaders that shape ATEK's direction.

Have faith in ATEK. ATEK is an instrument of the collectve will of its foreign teacher members.

[wylies99]

Who posted that? Most just want to hear about issues, not structural blah, blah, blah that is better handled internally.

[cruisemonkey]

Let's all hold hands and sing the 'Internationalle'. Power to the proletariat!

[purple_buddha]

[cruisemonkey]

[purple_buddha]

[matthews_world]

Check the labor laws.

Employers can fire E-2 visa holders who engage in any union activities.

[wylies99]

purplebuddha- It's a good idea to have an organization that speaks for the rights of teachers and that can inform teachers of their legal rights.
This should have been done YEARS ago, but the old-timers came here for the "booze and broads" and didn't do any of the hard work of improving things for themselves and others.

I applaud ATEK for trying to do something positive. Let's just see if they get it right BEFORE flaming them into the ground, okay?

[yeremy]

You're generalizing about people you probably have no idea who they were and why they came to Korea in the "early days". Most of the people who came here in the 70's, 80's and even the early 90's didn't come here for the "booze and broads." That's a more recent phenomena. They came here because they were missionaries, soldiers, or peace corp workers and some were teachers for the most part.

I think there is a parallel with the two liberal Korean presidencies and the rise in interest in forming an association or a union. I beg to differ that the critical mass of foreigners was not as high as you seem to think it was even in 1993. The people who are coming to Korea to "teach" is different, too. It's apparent that more than a few association/union organizers have come recently, too.

[purple_buddha]

[TheUrbanMyth]

The problem is that most people don't stay very long. And of those who do, most don't NEED a group like ATEK. A F-2 or F-5 visa gives you pretty much those freedoms and for those who don't have the visa, they've made other connections and have a "network" to use.

Eventually most people will leave ATEK. Others who come will want to join a strong functioning organization. The longer ATEK takes or even exists without doing anything positive for foreign teachers like taking on a few bad hakwons the less people are likely to join. "You've been around for how many years...and what have you done?"

But ATEK can not become a strong and functioning group without many members...so it's a catch-22.

And if ATEK against all the odds DOES become a group...then how long will it take before the hakwon assocations get together and with all their Korean workers, lobby the government to ban this group?

Who is the Korean government more likely to listen to? Thousands of their own voters or a few hundred temporary foreign workers?

Bottom line. Faith, like respect, is earned not given. So far ATEK has done nothing to earn either.
To put it another way. "Talk is cheap, whiskey costs money" Or maybe that's too old a reference for you young-'uns so here's a more modern one.

"Show me the money!"

[TheUrbanMyth]

[wylies99]

Thanks, but I'll be fine.

[dmbfan]

[wylies99]

Well put, dmbfan.

Urbanmyth- The oldtimers here are the ones who can down the booze.