Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bucheonguy]

You know, I've been putting up with a lot of crap here, as I'm sure most of you have. I don't know what exactly motivated my little dream but I think it has something to do with sticking it to them.

Now I doubt very much it's possible, but wouldn't it be great if we unionized? I would love it. My main problem here, is that we're all reletively powerless against getting cheated or coming to a secure, pleasent work place. Our contracts are also rediculously weighted in the favour of our employers. Wouldn't it be nice, if all of us from Hagwan teachers to University instructors were in a union. We could also ensure some more quality control of who comes here to teach! I know you've all met the people I'm talking about; the people that give us all a bad name. We could be in charge is screening applicants and ensuring that only people who are resonably qualified get over here. Plus, it would probably help the rest of us to get better jobs, that sometimes go to people with no qualifications at all, or people that lie about their qualifications.

Most importantly though, it would protect our rights from the blatent acts of abuse and harassment that, I'm sure, most of us endure. We could also get some better compensation for the fact the Won is falling.

Imagine being able to complain about something that is seriously wrong, and not being told you're spoiled, or that you're a guest, or that if you don't like it you can go home. Imagine, not getting cheated out of pay checks or other promised contractual items. Imagine, exacting a little bit of justice on a fairly corrupt system that seems to enjoy jerking foreigners around. Also, it would give us a better support network and help us cope with living in the most unforgiving place I've ever seen.

Like I said, it's probably impossible, it's just my little dream.

[cruisemonkey]

There's just one slight problem with your little dream - it's illegal.

[Bucheonguy]

Nothing wrong with dreaming the impossible dream. I honestly, don't even think I'd want to stay here anyway even if it was a reality.

[Bucheonguy]

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, all unions were at one time illegal before they were forced into existance. All we've gotta do is just get enough people together, sit them down, get water cannoned a couple of times and, bingo, the laws change and we win. Or else we all get deported and most of us won't be worse for wear from it.

[Adventurer]

[Tobias]

[Dodgy Al]

Ahh... the annual 'let's form a union' thread...

Congratulation!

[DrunkenMaster]

Does anyone know how I can get a uni job?

[ttompatz]

[DrunkenMaster]

What are the best uni jobs and how do I get one?

[GreenlightmeansGO]

[Bigfeet]

I don't think it'd work, too much churn and not enough traits in common between us.

[sojourner1]

So a teachers union would serve as a liaison between the foreign English teachers and the country itself. This has been mentioned and even attempted in years past, but it was determined a while back on here that the revolving door in this industry doesn't keep people around long enough to hold something together while the long termers tend to keep a low profile to make good money and be with their Korean wife. This would have to be something Korea supports as an accommodating way of inviting foreigners as civil service personnel. I don't know of any countries that have unions for foreign workers.
Here are some examples of the benefits, but not limited to these I list.

* It could establish a protocol for setting foreigners up with a cell phone instead of having all this confusion and frustrations over stores denying service like they often do.

* Ask the government to exempt us from paying exorbitant air travel taxes associated with flying in and out of Korea since we find it unfair since we compare apples (Korean market) to oranges (Western market) due to not being Korean.

* Act as a research institution that gathers and collates all relevant Korea related information to link a knowledge base between the foreign teacher and any situation he/she may need some assistance with as well as provide him/her with detailed maps, detailed transportation info, printed translations, and all other relevant info that newbies and sometimes veterans need, but can't find.

* Be involved with orientation of all new teachers in sharing a wealth of country specific information that will aid them in their sojourn as Korea still severely lacks info in English outside of major tourist attractions, mostly in Seoul, due to Korea not being an international tourist kind of place where many foreigners travel.

* Provide translators who also serve as mediators in situations such as a legal issue, employer issue, or traffic accident dispute.

* Consider and propose teacher pay raises due to weakening won and rising costs of living in Korea.

I'm sure there's many other reasons why we'd want a teachers union too numerous to list. I guess foreigners are not going to have a union as we don't have the right to do that in Korea nor does Korea show an interest in it. Uh, no this is not a nonsensical idea, but we're in a foreign country that really is not a democracy.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Tobias]