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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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 Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:23 am Post subject: |
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I doubt it... most of us are in positions that these workers seriously only dream about
Seriously, I know a girl who is majoring in Korean for foreignors and she teaches DDD workers Korean. The first phrases she has to teach them are "Please don't beat me" and "Please, can I have my wages."  |
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Homer
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:26 am Post subject: |
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Sorry Derrek but by comparison we are living on the gravy train.
These guys really need that union. |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| Homer wrote: |
Sorry Derrek but by comparison we are living on the gravy train.
These guys really need that union. |
___________quoted and underscored______________________________ |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| It is true the DDD workers need the protection even more than ESLers do, it might help them to have members from Western nations--more numbers, more money and whatever attention Western governments give to working conditions in foreign countries. The Korean government might pay more attention to complaints from Western countries than it does to the government of the Phillipines. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Are foreign English teachers working in other countries (Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand, etc.) members of legally recognised labour unions?
I don't know the answer, but I'm guessing not. And I'm also guessing that South Korea isn't going to be leading the way on this.
As for Western governments bending the ear of the Korean government, they tend to "speak" through their representation in the country, meaning their embassies. And according to posts I've read recently, Western embassies are becoming more adamant about their refusal to get involved with problems relating to bad schools, contract violations, severance pay issues, etc. No?
Last edited by JongnoGuru on Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:33 am; edited 2 times in total |
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| I can see Derrek going there with his complaint, "they're forcing me to go on a trip to Jeju-do and they're going to make me drink soju!!!" |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:45 am Post subject: |
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Our situations may be light years better than the 3D workers, but that doesn't mean we don't have any reason to organize either.
Having said that, I'd always heard it was illegal for foreign workers in Korea to organize. I definitely want to see how this plays out. |
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redbird
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| Homer wrote: |
Sorry Derrek but by comparison we are living on the gravy train.
These guys really need that union. |
Just because other foreigners need a union more than English teachers doesn't mean that foreign teachers shouldn't form one. For migrant workers, there may be no end to issues a union could work on.
But a union for teachers could start by ensuring that contracts are adhered to. That would help clean up the hagwon industry and be good for practically everyone-- the teachers, the students, and honest hagwon owners. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| Yea, could give some promising results that one. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
| I can see Derrek going there with his complaint, "they're forcing me to go on a trip to Jeju-do and they're going to make me drink soju!!!" |
With 400 16 year-old girls who are constantly grabbing at me and screaming to take a photo with them, no less!!!!!
Damn them!!!  |
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Saxiif
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| Labor unions don't work well in industries with high turnover and small numbers of workers in each workplace. Its too hard to form a union when you get the kind of insane turnover that you get in most hagwons and it'd be a bit silly to try to collectively bargain if there's only a foreign worker or two (as there are in many many hagwons). |
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Homer
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Just because other foreigners need a union more than English teachers doesn't mean that foreign teachers shouldn't form one. For migrant workers, there may be no end to issues a union could work on.
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Good point red bird and I never said that foreign teachers could not form a union. All I said was that the DDD workers need it a hell of a lot more then we do and they would not want a foreign teacher to join that union.
Simply because the needs are different.
As for a FT union, well that idea has several problems.
First, most teachers here are temps or one or two years in and then out the go. Nothing wrong with that but that does not help the union concept.
Two, who would run this union and manage the dues?
Three, a union means standards. What would be the standards for teachers to qualify for a union. By discussing standards you are opening a whole can of worms here.
Also, as was mentionned, this is an industry with a small number of workers (thats us foreign teachers) in each school. this would make a FT union near impossible to manage.
Finally, unions are not always a good thing as they sometimes have their very own agendas.
The final point is legal. Can a foreigner run a union of workers here? |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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I think if teachers did form some sort of a Union...approval would have to come from someone who works at some government office. Getting it would be like...a snowballs chance in hell. Maybe a FT's Association/Baby Sitters Association....using the word union would scare wonjangnim! Even though hakwon owners belong to a hakwon owners association. That's ok though....different rules apply to FT's.
Anyway...
what would this union/association be about? But...it would not fly..to many teachers come and go....many don't finish out their contract, etc...
and paying dues....can't see FT's paying dues....most can't even pay for a friend's meal! Cheap Charlie...
But...one change I would advocate for hakwon teachers...and I don't teach at a hakwon...would be no more than 5 50 minute classes a day. Period. This business of 6/7/8 50 minute classes a day is.....counter productive in terms of quality.
Let's start a list of what this BSA (baby sitters association) would be about, do, etc...
Degree's in related teaching field...no basket weaving degrees allowed |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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