Korean Job Discussion Forums

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

how about that, having a union and go on strikes and protest better rights, better contracts etc.. I mean we are important aren't we not??

must be at least 100.000 English Teachers in korea.. thats a pretty big number and we could do some damage to many businesses..

why should some people be getting 1.7 when others are getting 2.2 just because they used a better recruiter, or some people are getting good housing while others are getting a dog house...

anyway how about some thoughts?

William Beckerson · Guest

My feelings are mixed.

On one hand, I know what a bunch of evil self-serving parasites most of the ESL hagwon owners are.

On the other hand, I know what a bunch of evil, self-serving parasites most of the ESL teachers are.

I just cant pick a side.

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

William Beckerson · Guest

posco's trumpet · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog

Trinny · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

The Cube · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Canadian Teacher · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

This has been beat to death for years but here we go again.

The 'teacher's are too trasnient for it to work.

Who is going to collect the dues and administer the thing?

Who is going to pay for an office and utilities?

It is illegal for a person to run said union. We are here on E-1 or E-2 visas. We can do one thing on those visas, teach English.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

we could all pay for the union to happen,
I mean 500 won a month or 1000 won a month,

I dont mean just have a union for money, I mean also for unfair dismissile, wrongful treatment, blar blar blar...

but yeah I can see it will never happen either, just be good if their was a big brother watching out for us!

tomato · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 6:21 pm Post subject:

Hello, Itaewon Guy!

I always relish a good rebellion, so I'll jump in on this topic.
As much as I enjoy Korea, as much as I enjoy my job, I agree with those who complain that the immigration laws are unfair.
It's ironic that the foreign teachers are in such high demand, yet we don't fight back when the situation warrants for us to fight back.

If what Canadian Teacher says is true, it is illegal for us to unionize.
But that might change, if enough foreign teachers get together to have it changed.
You have a good idea; I just hope you also have a good Korean lawyer.

Trinny · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Tomatoe & Itaewon guy,

You can English speaking Korean lawyers through Canadian and American Chamber of Commerce.

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

It wouldn't work for any of the many above reasons mentioned. I also personally loathe and detest unions, so I have that going for me.

If such a venture were to take place, however, I'd overcome my hatred of organized labor in order to serve you all in the capacity of union fund embez... err, treasurer. It'd be for the good of all concerned.

kylehawkins2000 · Joined: 08 Apr 2003

I don't think a union would fly. This issue has been debated to death I think.

Workers really are too transient. Also there is a lack of professionalism on the part of the ESL directors as well as the teachers. If there was some sort of accreditation system, or some standards set to become a teacher would be one thing.....but basically anyone that made it through University can get a job teaching ESL here. They could have studied anything.....Computer Science, Math, Statistics, Business, photograhpy, basket weaving, etc. Most people here are not 'real' teachers.

I would love to see the E2 visa system changed so that the teachers were not tied down to working for one Hogwan. If teachers were able to ditch crappy institutes than the crappy places would be forced to change, or would be unable to hire foreign teachers and keep them on staff.

I would be willing to give up many of the benefits in return for this freedom, such as housing, airfare, etc. Alas, when would Korea ever take such an action to improve the lives of foreign workers? The law as it exists is designed to protect the Korean employers.....after all, they are the ones that cast the ballots at election time.

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

re: Tomato's point about lobbying to have the immigration laws changed. Why would the government capitulate to our demands? It's not like we can vote. And the Korean Left, unlike the Left in other countries, doesn't seem to be that worked up about the mistreatment of foreigners. You think Hanchongnyon is gonna fight on our behalf? Not likely.
In any event, speaking as an ESL teacher myself, I think the foreign 3-D workers have a greater claim to sympathy than your average backpacker or student loan refugee.