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prince of hockey
Joined: 03 May 2006
Location: busan, south korea
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 Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: Teacher's Strike in October |
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Did you read the front page story of the Korea Herald, Saturday Sept. 2nd about a possible teachers strike in October? Can anyone give any further information?  |
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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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If they follow through with it, it would be a KOREAN teacher's strike. I would think that any foreign teacher who participates could see themselves on the next plane home and their names blacklisted.
Also remember, the organizers of such a strike are mostly anti-foreign communists who are only concerned about keeping there position rather than making a difference. |
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sheba
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Here there and everywhere!
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Is it public schools only? Cos if its not, then Id be getting the day off too. My boss wouldnt send me to work alone! |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| sheba wrote: |
| Is it public schools only? Cos if its not, then Id be getting the day off too. My boss wouldnt send me to work alone! |
Public schools only. I doubt there is a hakwon boss alive who is going to miss a day of pay simply to send his teachers to a strike rally unless it affects them. And Koreans who teach in hakwons are (usually) not REAL teachers in the sense we would think of them back home or here ( they don't have their teaching certificate...they'd be teaching in the public system otherwise). |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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| So, I want to know when are FOREIGN teachers in hagwons going to start sticking together and striking for better conditions, rather than just coming on here complaining about their schools? It seems as if foreign teachers in Korea have nothing better to do than complain and tattle-tell on each other to the boss. Koreans stick together and so do other races. But whiteys? Not normally. That's another piece of advice I have for newbies. Don't come here thinking you'll be buddies with all your fellow foreign coworkers. I always end up liking the Koreans I work with more. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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| princess wrote: |
| So, I want to know when are FOREIGN teachers in hagwons going to start sticking together and striking for better conditions, rather than just coming on here complaining about their schools? |
Maybe you should make a definite list of grievances and organize a strike. Lead us and make us realize that we have nothing to lose but our chains! ESL Teachers of Korea unite! Heil Princess!
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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Let's remember that there are SEVERAL unions in Korea that represent public school teachers. Teachers choose what union they want to belong to or to not belong to a union at all. Let's also remember that the pro-communist, anti-American propaganda union is NOT the majority and that any strike made by them will only include a small percentage of teachers (it will not shut schools down). Let's also remember that unions in Korea are set-up in order to influence curriculum and not to influence economics.
I do find it funny that the pro-communist, anti-American propaganda union bases their strike ideas on those of the Teacher federation unions in Canada (good god....) |
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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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I had a thread about teachers getting together to list some complaints and such- not a popular idea.
Too bad most foreigners carry that "all for myself" attitude when they come to Korea, when the Koreans see it, they know they can exploit it to its fullest and drive a wedge between us.
Oh well.....*beep* happens, right? |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| princess wrote: |
So, I want to know when are FOREIGN teachers in hagwons going to start sticking together and striking for better conditions, rather than just coming on here complaining about their schools?...
... Don't come here thinking you'll be buddies with all your fellow foreign coworkers. I always end up liking the Koreans I work with more. |
Now I know why I come back to Dave's. It's the unconscious irony in so many peoples' posts. Absolutely delicious. |
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vox
Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Location: Jeollabukdo
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:26 am Post subject: |
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| princess wrote: |
| So, I want to know when are FOREIGN teachers in hagwons going to start sticking together and striking for better conditions? Koreans stick together and so do other races. But whiteys? Not normally. |
Princess, I like some of your posts and I don't want you to mistake me as a troll, but are you FREAKING KIDDING ME? Teachers' unions back in the west are maybe the strongest unions on earth next to the Teamsters and the G8. When the teacher's union in Canada gets its ire up, entire regions get involved, especially if other parts of the country decide to show support, which has happened. That could never happen in Korea.
A teacher's union with some balls is long overdue in this country, along with a national coalition action committee for women. Whiteys in unions back home take care of business just as well as (in fact in many cases better than) their international counterparts.
The history of the Irish in 20th century North America shows this particularly well, I think.
But as for foreign teachers in Korea, well, I wonder if they all had families to feed if it would be different. |
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vox
Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Location: Jeollabukdo
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:38 am Post subject: |
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| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
| I do find it funny that the pro-communist, anti-American propaganda union bases their strike ideas on those of the Teacher federation unions in Canada (good god....) |
...because the situation for American teachers is just so much greater than for Canadian teachers?  It ******* sucks to be a public schoolteacher in the US. Just ask one. For the sake of American teachers who step up to the plate, I would wish that the American system would adopt more of the protective traits of the Canadian teacher's union. There's a reason that US ads for teachers liken them to heroes and it's not a pretty reason.
This post must be based on blind acrimony.
Mod Edit: Edited for language. |
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| vox wrote: |
| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
| I do find it funny that the pro-communist, anti-American propaganda union bases their strike ideas on those of the Teacher federation unions in Canada (good god....) |
...because the situation for American teachers is just so much greater than for Canadian teachers? It ******* sucks to be a public schoolteacher in the US. Just ask one. For the sake of American teachers who step up to the plate, I would wish that the American system would adopt more of the protective traits of the Canadian teacher's union. There's a reason that US ads for teachers liken them to heroes and it's not a pretty reason.
This post must be based on blind acrimony.
Mod Edit: Edited for language. |
It's a complex situation and the same old debate. However, in British Columbia, the union has done very little to help teachers or to help education in the province. The union leaders make more money than the teachers. Teachers go on strike and lose pay...union leaders continue to collect pay. Bad teachers don't get canned when they should. etc. etc. |
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that guy
Joined: 29 Feb 2004
Location: long gone
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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Here ya go:
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/archives/result_contents.asp?id=200609010049&query=teacher
If you read the article you'll find that only one union (yes the union) plans a one day leave.
| Quote: |
A teachers' union has announced its entire membership plan to go on leave in late October in protest of a new teacher evaluation plan and a merit-based pay system.
In Korea, teachers are allowed to take accumulated leave during the semester. |
They are protesting the new evaluation system that the gov. is trying to put in place. A system that rewards teachers on merit not seniority.
They will also go after the great satan:
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| The delegates also agreed to participate in rallies against the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, saying the agreement will pave the way for the opening of the local education market to U.S. players. |
Here's a little back ground:
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The union, which was established with the aim of realizing "true education" in late 1980s, has also been under fire for focusing on ideological education and "selfish activities."
The militant union has been allowing anti-American and pro-North Korean ideological material and influences to creep into education, while opposing educational reforms such as the evaluation of teachers. Because of the union's resistance, the teacher evaluation system has been delayed, even though students and parents favor the plan. The merit-based pay system was introduced in early August this year. |
How does this affect us public school teachers? It doesn't in the slightest. Even if this one union went on strike, there would probably be only a half dozen or so teachers missing from any one school. In my school none. |
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noguri
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Location: korea
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| vox wrote: |
| For the sake of American teachers who step up to the plate, I would wish that the American system would adopt more of the protective traits of the Canadian teacher's union. |
There's an important reason why AGGRESSIVE teacher's unions are even more urgent in the U.S. than in Canada or Korea: health insurance.
Both Canada and Korea have SOME sort of national health insurance, albeit very different systems.
But if you teach in the U.S., a huge portion of your salary is lost to health care costs. Take your kid to the pediatrician for a check-up and you have to dish out $85 bucks even AFTER you pay the $15 copayment. Canadians and Koreans have no idea about this.
Well, that's when you DO have health insurance if you live in North Carolina. A state I worked in where public employees--including teachers--are prohibited by law from belonging to a union. I guess it is some anti-communist nonsense. They give you a program administered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield that covers only about 2/3 to 1/2 of the health care costs.
Compare that to states like California, New York or Pennsylvania where teachers are UNIONIZED. They have REAL health insurance, not that fake health insurance that deducts money from your paycheck but without paying all of your medical costs.
It's not just about pay, its about health care access. Without a labor union, your life isn't worth a dime.
I'll choose Korea over North Carolina any day of the week. |
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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How does this affect us public school teachers? It doesn't in the slightest. Even if this one union went on strike, there would probably be only a half dozen or so teachers missing from any one school. In my school none. |
All hell is gonna break loose at schools in Incheon however! |
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