Page 22 - ELG1706 Jun Issue 448

COMMENT .

Point

of View

Blair
Matthews

‘If you win,

we all win’

’ve been a TEFL teacher for 16 years and Interest Group), ELT Advocacy Ireland,
in that time I have worked in a dozen A Better Kaplan (in the US) and SLB
or so schools. I’ve been made redundant Coop (Spain) are doing a lot of great work
twice, been on zero hours contracts, had organising teachers.
Imy hours capped and generally been In the EU, the law protects our right
subject to the low status and poor pay that to collectively bargain pay, hours and
is too often typical in EFL. I’ve worked in working conditions. These rights are
places where bullying and bad management fundamental in social democracies (despite
have gone unchallenged. At the same time, forty or so years of neoliberal economics)
I have invested my own time and money because collective bargaining works.
in qualifications, training and attending Under collective bargaining agreements, now there are meetings once a month. In my
conferences, to the benefit of my employers. representatives of workers (made up of current place of work, we have workplace
These experiences stand in stark contrast to teachers and a union representative) meet reps in health and safety, workplace learning
the huge wealth-generating capacity of the with senior management to negotiate hours, and equality, all of whom are teachers
TEFL industry. In the UK alone, the ELT pay and conditions and any other issue who receive time and training to improve
industry is worth £1.2 billion (supporting that affects employees (such as training or conditions in their workplaces (free to the
thousands of jobs). Why then are teachers equality). As a workplace representative, employer).
often employed on short-term and zero hours I have had modest success in negotiating I’d like to see a TEFL profession where
contracts with few benefits? I don’t know flexible working hours, workplace learning teachers work together to improve
many teachers who own their own homes or and the transfer of zero hours contracts conditions for everyone, where terms and
have pensions. to permanent ones. Through collective conditions are fair and where we can stand
I love my job. I think it is worthwhile and bargaining we also have a forum for conflict up for our rights as workers.
I am committed to my career as a TEFL resolution, allowing teachers to raise If you and your colleagues are interested
teacher, but the lack of security means that problems anonymously so that they are dealt then there are a number of things you
I can’t make long term plans. I don’t even with before they become big problems. can do. Talk to other teachers. If there’s
know where I’ll be this time next year, and I Collective bargaining benefits employees something bothering you, you can be
often feel powerless. Because of the transient and employers. It’s a free HR service. certain it’s bothering others. Join a union.
nature of the profession, there’s often no one In my last place of work, we won union Trade unions provide valuable advice on
around who is there to stick up for me. recognition despite an employer extremely how to assert your rights – they’re the
This is why I started TEFL Guild. The aim hostile to a union presence. A tribunal experts in employment law. Trade unions
of this website is to provide an archive of mandated that employees and management will also approach your management on
working conditions in TEFL so that teachers met three times a year. After a while, the your behalf, so you don’t have to stick
don’t feel alone and to argue for collective employer saw the value of this process and your head above the parapet. Appoint
bargaining rights. I would love to see TEFL representatives. Workplace representatives
teachers have a stronger role in the industry. In the UK alone, the have certain privileges in employment law,
I want to see an organised profession and which protect their ability to raise concerns
have teachers educate themselves on their ELT industry is worth with employers. Finally, get in touch. This
workplace rights. £1.2 billion...Why then are is an international movement and you have
Teachers are getting organised. A number support from fellow TEFL teachers. If you
of schools have won collective bargaining teachers often employed win, we all win.
rights in the USA, UK, Canada, Ireland and on short-term and zero
Italy, and there are currently movements in
Brazil, Argentina, Spain and other countries hours contracts with few Blair Matthews is a teacher at a leading
aiming to improve working conditions for benefits? UK university. He runs the TEFL Guild
EFL teachers. Grassroots groups such as website teflguild.wordpress.com and
TaWSIG (Teachers as Workers Special Twitter account @teflguild.

22 June 2017

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