British Council teachers in Taiwan escalate union campaign

British Council teachers in Taiwan are taking steps to put pressure on the BC to secure a much needed pay rise, beginning with a press conference and going from there.

British Council teachers secured union recognition last year in a campaign driven by the fact teachers had not had any changes to their pay scale for twenty years. After recruiting a majority of the teaching staff into the Taiwan Higher Education Union (T.H.E.U), teachers began collective bargaining with the goal to achieve a pay increase to make up for the decades of stagnant wages.

British Council management only offered a meagre increase, claiming that local management did not have the power to set wages. As employers always do, they also claimed threats of union action would not bring an improved offer.

But the BC teachers in Taiwan are unwilling to accept anything less than what they deserve and are calling management’s bluff on the question of further action. They have notified the BC that they have prepared an escalating campaign to bring their demands to the attention of the wider public. This will begin with a press conference on March 26th in which local media will be invited to hear about the declining pay and worsening working conditions faced by BC teachers in Taipei City.

Their campaign is part of a wider wave of union organising efforts at the BC globally, including UK-based online teachers and examiners who have joined the TEFL Workers’ Union. Amongst other things, TEFL Union is taking legal action to challenge alleged victimisation of whistleblowers at the company.

Our union sends our fullest solidarity to the teachers in Taiwan. Across the world, the BC claims to be an industry-leading employer. Sadly, the reality is something very different. If we want the BC – or any other employer – to live up to their professed standards, it’s up to us as workers to hold them to account.

If you work for the BC here in the UK, reach out. We can tell you what our members are doing to make the BC a better place – and how you can get involved. It’s [email protected] to speak to an organiser.