Below an online teacher at one of the big chain schools (trust us, you’ve heard of them) writes about the importance of being in the union.
I wanted to say a big thank you to the TEFL Workers’ Union for supporting me with an issue that I experienced at one of the big chain schools. I have been teaching English online for over 4 years but this year has been a challenging time dealing with family issues and juggling multiple responsibilities. Due to a series of events, I was given two warnings about my work performance even though I kept management updated about my personal situation. The warnings were issued within a very short space of time and I was surprised and disappointed that the correct process on disciplinary and grievance procedures as written by ACAS guidelines was not followed.
I contacted the TEFL union in July and spoke with a union representative who was knowledgeable about the process and he immediately asked me to send over the information so he could proceed with the case. My rep was in regular contact with me over the next few weeks and answered all my questions. It was an emotional time for me and I felt disappointed that I was going through this experience. However, I never felt alone in dealing with these issues and I’m so grateful to my rep as he was understanding and this gave me the confidence to continue with the HR meeting and argue against the written warnings.
On the day of the HR meeting, my rep fought hard to win the case, he was well prepared and explained the facts to HR and all the points were covered. He made the process easy to deal with from the start as he has a lot of compassion and consideration for others and he knows how to make anyone feel comfortable in his presence. It was a successful outcome as we achieved the results we wanted; the warnings were removed and a permanent contract issued.
I didn’t know a union for online teachers existed, but I am so grateful I found their website after doing some research. In my experience and in my opinion I highly recommend the TEFL union as there are so many positive reasons to join! For me, the main reason is the support and advice for problems at work and you immediately feel like a part of a community of people that are ready to protect your rights at work. If you are working as an online teacher, it can sometimes feel like you are alone and no one cares if you are experiencing issues with work. However, you are never alone as there are a group of great people in the union who are passionate about helping others and you can reach out to them if you have questions or experience issues at work.
Once again I want to say a big thank you to the union from the bottom of my heart for helping to turn a negative situation into a positive experience. It is these small victories that can make it possible to continue doing what we love and for TEFL to be a rewarding career.
The move towards increased online teaching has, for too many of us, seen an increase in precarious, insecure work. But, by sticking together and standing up for our rights, we can hold online schools to account. If you want to make your online teaching job better, it’s [email protected]. We got your back.