The UK-based TEFL Workers’ Union is pushing back against probably illegal actions by employers in an app-based English Language Teaching workplace (yeah they exist now) right now. EL Gazette runs a story about it here: https://www.elgazette.com/online-teflers-challenge-self-employed-status-as-union-membership-grows/. And it should make you smile.
One reason is that articles like this show that young trade unionists are such good fighters.
Two is that it is a real story which would have just been a headache for a worker but now it’s set to be victory for a worker either because they got their dignity back by giving the boss the same headache (which -granted- isn’t justice or reform) or because the story makes other workers in the sector aware of how wrong these practices are.
Three: it exposes the way employers operate and the laws need reform.
Four: it shows we all need to unionise and take those tiny injustices a bit more seriously especially when it comes to work and workers which we are new to, which goes across borders and or which workers are using other languages and laws to do.
Fifth and finally: it shows the impact of international support for trade unionists. ELT’s trade unionists the UK are leading on protecting teachers in workplaces online because they have constantly remained in contact with working teachers who act as trade union organisers here in a collaborative and open way. It’s led to real results. The biggest one being that they and the rest of us exist and can be found.
That TEFL Workers Union exist, that Unite ELT here in Ireland keep going, and that UPE are so loud and proud in Malta provides a huge lesson to all teachers who who know a better world and a better workplace is possible. The lesson is this: Don’t give up. There are ELT unions in Canada, US, Japan has General Union, Italy has FLC CGIL.
See the Know your Rights page on the wonderful hub that is teachersasworkers.org
Last bit read the article it ends on these two paragraphs:
With more teachers working online, the question of their employment status may become an increasing concern, further fuelling the move towards unionisation.
Union membership across sectors has been rising steadily in the UK and Ireland since 2016. In Malta, the Union of Professional Educators, which began to fight for EFL teachers in 2020, saw membership grow over 10%.
Smile. We have fighting unions now who are organising. Join one, get active, and don’t give up. If online is the future, let’s get it in line now. There’s no time like the present.
ELT Advocacy Ireland 