JUNE 17 FACEBOOK ACTION: SUPPORT ONLINE TEACHERS AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL

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Building on our previous twitter action and a call-in campaign, the TEFL Workers’ Union (IWW) is organising a day of action on Facebook to demand that the British Council #ReinstateLara after she was sacked without cause or explanation.

WHAT

Social Media Campaign on Facebook to demand justice for an English Language Teacher sacked without notice because she was employed through an agency. 

WHEN

FRIDAY 17th June (but feel free to start posting late in the evening on Thursday!)

TARGETS

  • The British Council: a high-profile charitable organisation that is, in practice, a part of the UK state. The BC is a major player in ‘regulating’ the English Language Teaching industry & is an important target for IWW organising in the sector.
  • The Impellam Group: The Impellam group is an outsourcing agency that supplies staff to a number of industries and, in this case, the British Council. The Impellam group consists of a number of smaller employment agencies, including Carbon60, Flexy and Comensura. 

BACKGROUND

Lara (not her real name, but the bosses know who we’re talking about) taught English lessons online for the British Council but was employed through a series of agencies affiliated with the Impellam Group.

This action is being called in order to coincide with strike action by British Council staff who are taking action over restructuring and privatisation. In this case, striking staff are more akin to civil servants and are part of the PCS union. 

More info:

DAY OF ACTION: TELL THE BC TO REINSTATE LARA!

Step-by-Step Campaign Guide: 

  1. Log into your personal/organisational account on Facebook
  1. Search for the ImpellamGroup:  https://www.facebook.com/ImpellamGroup 
  1. Write a review such as/Post as follows:

I understand that Impellam provides online English teachers to the British Council. I was concerned to learn that one of these teachers, Lara, was sacked without notice. This is unacceptable. All workers deserve a fair process & secure work. 

I am asking that Impellam reinstate Lara with back pay. I’m also aware that there may be protests called in order to support Lara. If this happens, I will be attending.

  1. Search for the British Council Main Page: https://www.facebook.com/britishcouncil

    British Council English School Pages:


https://www.facebook.com/TeachingEnglish.BritishCouncil

https://www.facebook.com/LearnEnglish.BritishCouncil

https://www.facebook.com/LearnEnglishTeens.BritishCouncil

https://www.facebook.com/Schools.BritishCouncil

  1. Post as follows:

British Council: Justice for online teachers! End #precarity at the @BritishCouncil. BC: no more hiding behind agencies. It’s time to #ReinstateLara! 

2 thoughts on “JUNE 17 FACEBOOK ACTION: SUPPORT ONLINE TEACHERS AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL”

  1. Good luck . You should try contacting Liz Ford at the Guardian. She used to run stories about our struggles with the BC in Spain. Also have you any contact with Stuart Anderson in Spain? . He’s chair of Staff side in EWC in BC. I’m retired now but if I can help…..

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