Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BUSTAK]

FIRST RESPONSE ENGLISH EDUCATORS(FREED)
Press Release May 30, 2010

FREED (First Response English Educators) is a first response support network for teachers and it has particular concern for the newest newcomers among teachers in South Korea. It provides information and consultation regarding settlement and employment. FREED is also an affiliate of TEA-KOR, an anti-imperialist network for teachers established in 2007.

FREED upholds the values of human rights and peace. We enjoy the support of the Busan Human Rights Counseling Center (Busan Ingwan Sangdam Center/ 부산 인권상담 센터).

With this press release, we want to address some current issues related to human rights and peace. Many education issues have come to our attention lately. Also, we wish to communicate a message of concern for peace in the region.

The crackdown against migrant workers
Many migrant workers from poor countries come to work in Korea at the invitation of employers and many employers take advantage of them by not properly documenting them. FREED discourages undocumented employment. However, we object to methods of enforcement that violate human rights and democratic practice. South Korean companies have accepted migrant workers without the regular monitoring of employers over the years but initiates periodic crackdowns unjustly. We think that employers and faulty government regulations are largely responsible for the lack of documentation. We express solidarity with all workers, including teachers and all migrants. Workers without documentation should be documented and amnesty granted until documentation is completed.

The MEST dismissals
FREED upholds the civil rights of all, including the political freedoms of freedom of association and the freedom to organize. How can an election be legitimate if the incumbent candidates use the mechanisms and power of the state to persecute the supporters and members of opposing parties? We support democratic participation in the political process. We support the calls for the reinstatement of the public school teachers dismissed for political involvements.

The arrests of labor leaders
Furthermore, we strongly object to the arrests of legitimate union staff and representatives in the KTU and other unions. This is profoundly undemocratic and hypocritical of the state officials responsible for ordering these dismissals. We demand their release and an end to such persecution of labor organizers. We urge freely negotiated settlements to all outstanding collective agreements in the public and private sectors.

The dismissed university lecturers
FREED joins in the call for the reinstatement of the thousands of laid-off university lecturers. We object to the mass lay-off of all the part-time and casual employees in multiple sectors, which was done so that employers could avoid the expenses of newly implemented employment regulations pertaining to part-time and casual workers with over two years of continuous employment. We sympathize with other teachers working in deplorable and stressful working conditions with over-work and under-payment. As foreign teachers, we often experience such hardship ourselves and we see no reason or justification for such poor conditions and hardship. Overwork is rampant in Korea and more work could be spread around by limiting full-time workers to five-day work weeks and eight-hour work days. It would serve the economy and employment relations to ensure that employees are all compensated fairly with proper benefits.

Corruption in education institutions
Our condolences go out to the family and colleagues of Seo, the hourly lecturer who committed suicide on May 25th. His suicide note told of extensive corruption and abuse at his institution. He was paid a very low salary and was forced to pay a price to obtain employment and described his work relationship to a professor as that of a slave. He reported participating in fraudulent practices and then committed suicide out of shame and stress. His case speaks to abhorrent and corrupt conditions in the education system. The government needs to address this problem squarely and thoroughly. FREED would actively support such efforts.

Peace
Finally, we would like to echo the calls for calmness and a peaceful resolution to the conflict between North and South Korea without military action and foreign interference. There should be a careful investigation of the Cheonan disaster by a credible third party. With concern for the welfare of all, we look forward to a reunited Korea and a region without nuclear weapons.

www.freedteachers.org/ TEA-KOR in www.facebook.com and www.unionbook.org

[T-J]

Any E-2 visa holders associated with them can start packing their bags after immi gets a hold of that.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Well, there goes any hope for this organisation being significant, serious and actually helping Teachers.

Too bad, it could have been something.

Now it will slowly become a joke and may even end up hurting a certain number of E2 teachers in the process as they mistakenly support these initiatives thinking FREED can protect them from the legal consequences of violating their own visas.


This press release is a selfish move meant to shout out what FREEDs founders hold as personal beliefs.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Possibly morrisonhotel.

[Troglodyte]

I think that until ATEK and FREED can both settle down and act like groups of mature adults and stop bickering with each other, neither will do much good. I definitely wouldn't want to be join either of them at the moment.

FREED seems to be a bit more vocal about their "dislike" of ATEK, and this press release seems a bit unrealistic. For now, my money is on ATEK coming out on top.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Indeed trodglodyte

ATEK made the right choices a while back and is becoming a resource for teachers while staying out of inflamatory human rights workers unite rethoric.

Good for them.

[rollo]

yeah immi can send them home. Cant get involved with the locals politics. A good rule in my opinion.

[Smee]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[CentralCali]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Great point Cali!

Something many so-called socialists and communists miss in their workers unite calls...

An anti-imperialists network of Teachers...now that is amusing. It sounds like the people behind FREED are playing freedom fighter over the internet...join at your own peril.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[rollo]

For the love of Pete! If it wasnt for American Imperialism clashing with Soviet Imperialism there would not be a South Korea and thus no job for these dim bulbs. They signed a contract to work as English teachers for a short period now they want to change this country to their ideal. If that isnt imperialistic I dont know what is. Take up the white man's burden FReed. Keep on turning out the press releases. Koreans have the Right to govern their own country as they see fit!!! But maybe if they just keep pushing and get more vocal they will see real change.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Rollo, best be careful when you venture out on that policial history pond...the ice under your feet will crack as you went out on thin one.

there would be no South Korea were it not for Soviet and US clashes in the post WWII world. Then again there would also be no North Korea, there would just be Korea.

[T-J]

The problem ATEK had in the beginning was its leadership. They have gotten over that hurdle for the time being in that the have a competent person at the helm.

FREED is suffering the same problem now and is probably going to fair worse than ATEK did.

Too many angry people with questionable pasts looking to grind their axes in the name of bettering Korea.

Take your snake oil elsewhere Barb, Steph, and John. I ain't buyin....