Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mr. BlackCat]

One thing I'm getting fed up with in my various work situations is the complacancy of the FT in the face of obvious abuse. I'm a pretty laid back guy, or at least I was when I first got here. You know what that got me? 12 hour days, no OT, weekends and BS. I don't blame anyone but myself and I've learned my lessons.

However, it is incredibly difficult to stand up for yourself when everyone around you will not do it. I'm not a union leader, I'm not looking to revolutionize the system. But when the hogwan is blatantly trying to rob from you or lie, I would think most decent people would stand up for themselves.

Case in point. Everything was going hunky dorey at my place of work for a few months. Last week they tell us all about the summer intensives coming up. I ask about OT and the clearly stated clause in my contract about anything above 30hrs/wk being OT. I was told, sorry, you have some holdiays in lieu of OT. Umm, no, that's PAID holidays, not 'make up the hours another week' holidays. Regardless, I clarified several times during the interview that ANYTHING above 30hrs was OT. I had it clarified in writing. I knew about situations like this from last time around.

It's not resolved, but we go back to the staffroom. My co-workers are ho-hum. Oh, well. It's not worth the fight. At least 600$, maintaining some respect for the contract, and standing up for yourself isn't worth it? So now I'm the bad guy. This has happened with various other things at work as well.

Another example, a friend got permission to leave her contract a couple of days early to attend an important event back home. Just a couple of weeks ago her boss tells her she cannot have the days off. She already has the ticket and everything is set. They say, fine, that means you're 'quitting' early and we don't have to give you any severance, airfare or pension. It's basically an 11th month firing. The new guy comes in and she tells him all about it. He's apparently fine with it because he starts next week.

My basic question is: Who do we blame for the state of ESL teaching here? I used to think a lot of managers were just slimey and underhanded, and that may still be true. But what responsiblity do these FTs have when they refuse to stand up for themselves? It just makes it so much harder for the rest of us and let's the managers think that we don't have any other options.

[inkoreaforgood]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

The complete lack of balls of so many newbies is yet another reason I'm so thankful I don't work with any other waegooks (and my school's really good - I've only had to put my foot down a couple of times). I look at the succession of spineless newbies my district's English camp has brought through and wonder how much extra shit I'd have to deal with if I wasn't the solo waegook.

[Morton]

I hear you brother. Let the revolution begin.

We should stand together and start our own Dave's ESL Cafe Union.

Let's all create the manifesto.

1. No private work for less than 40,000W per hour.
2. No wages under 2 million won.
3. No less than 14 paid days vacation, (excluding Sat/Sun and national holidays.)

[mj roach]

Black Cat -

What worked for me in a similar situatuion was a compromise between the two...

After the staff meeting, in private in the director/owners' office with the door closed....

A short, calm but firm discussion re. tax office, labor board, etc.

Cash in hand rebate for an inflated tax rate, unpaid over-time, etc...

On condition that no one else was told.

If your co-f/teachers are willing to be ripped off, it's their business...

Doesn't mean you have to allow it for yourself.

The owner is, more than likely, 'under reporting' much of the cash

and will not want to go through the process.

Make your deal in private... 'saving face'

[Pizzathehut]

I have taught all over Asia and I have never seen teachers so limp-wristed and complacent than in Korea. I do not know what it is about Korea that attracts people who like being run over.
I have had some issues in my school that I had to speak up about in past meetings. Do you think anyone chimed in to help out? NOT ONE SOUL!
These issues affected everyone and no one cared enough to talk about them. Did anything get done? Not one thing. I was just labled the bad guy.

[spliff]

It's the E2 visa that's the root of it...people think it's better to take it sideways up the poopshoot rather than the complications incurred from changing employers. And, the Korean employers are not as halfwitted as many here seem to think...they know exactly what they are doing and how they're taking advantage of teachers...they just really don't care! In the end, they are businesspeople who are looking to get the most return from their investment.

[The_Conservative]

[wylies99]

[inkoreaforgood]

[Mr. BlackCat]

The_Conservative wrote:

[Squid]

I recently wnet through the hoops. Tax overpayment, no pension, health insurance fiddling etc.

I got my ducks in a row, organized the key ft's, and my employer, to their credit, immediately overhauled the entire payment system.

It pays to organize and then shove, not the other way around. Also you have to make sure you're on a firm legal footing and resist the urge to slag them off in the meantime.

That said I just quit ...19 teaching days to go...

[wylies99]

Look, none of those jerkfaces will speak up for YOU- I expected that- but they won't even fight for THEMSELVES. That's some sorry *beep* and they are pathetic pieces of human garbage. I know because I've had worthless co-workers, too.

[The_Conservative]

[Col.Brandon]

This kind of situation is exactly how Nazi Germany got started.