Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cornholio1]

I read this site almost daily now and I see a lot of serious complaints about hagwans and what not on here. Now I am sorry I am not one of you Korea haters, but I do feel that as a teacher myself and having been screwed over by more than one hagwan, there should definitely be a foreign teacher's union in Korea. It could be used for various things such as pay, legal council, approval commitee for all hagwans in Korea, and the basic human rights stuff that we could all use here.Now I know what you're thinking, "I don't wanna pay for a stupid union. Why should I pay 50 or 100 thousand won a month/year? The school I am at is just fine, haven't had a problem as of yet." Yet being the operable word. There will come the time when you have a problem and could deffinitely use the assistance of someone with a little savvy about living and working in this country. Like my old apt, It had holes in the walls and rats the size of snow seals. That hagwan, also didn't see fit to pay my last month and my plane ticket. That's ok though, I was only working there to help a friend. I am at a good hagwan now anyhow. I could have really used the help of a low cost lawyer to get my money from them. How about a friend of mine that got fired her first day for being a little on the not so attractive side. She had to find a new job/ place to live in less than a week.
Problems such as these could be taken care of with the assistance of a good foreign teachers union. Like a comittee for approval of living quarters provided by hagwans, approving the hagwans that foreign nationals can work at within union guidelines. Providing an open forum to be heard in a court of law protesting civil rights infringements. Also it could help to put these crooked wongjang nims out of the hagwan business for ever. Send them to jail for their evil deeds. Lol a little power goes straight to the brain doesn't it? The union would also definitely provide assistance with tourism, and language interpretation. I am totally hot and bothered about this idea. If you have any input or are serious about helping to organize a union like this let me know. ok?
bye for now.

[Rteacher]

As long as the Korean government, mass media, and general public - suspects that there are many unqualified foreign teachers in Korea who have fake degrees and/or teach illegal privates, and/or want to sexually exploit Korean women, I see a real "foreign teachers's union" having about as much chance as a fart in a whirlwind...

[trubadour]

I think the OP, and others, propose a union with too much unrealistic detail. Perhaps a really well established union, after many years of *recognised* service, could provide many sorts of services such as mentioned.

But for a new organisation to set out to vet all the accommodations of all the hagwons in Korea from the word 'go' is an impossible and in any case an unnecessary proposal. Change comes from the top, and that means that our interests as teachers and the interests of the Korean nation need to be brought together and our voice needs to be heard where it matters - at the top - not chasing after every hagwon's one-room!

A union which attempts services such as those proposed would only see its efforts wasted trying to clean up after the mess that is made by a faulty system.

Our interests should be boiled down to some very simple proposals and these proposals should be represented in the most effective ways possible.

This is, I think, the only reasonable and honorable service that a foreign teachers union could provide for those it represented.

[Julius]

The solution is actually very simple: don't work for hogwons.

If people followed that advice there'd be no need for a Union.

[Poktanju]

Ok, we get the point. We heard you the other 3 times.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=86705