For the first time, English language teachers at British Council teaching centers in Taiwan have organized into a union, advocating for a salary increase to counteract a 25% inflation rate and to end two decades of stagnant wages.
Representing over two-thirds of British Council Taiwan teachers, the union has rejected the offer of a 2.5% temporary pay rise from BCTW, which would last for nine months.
According to Jack Falconer, chair of the union branch, they are giving BCTW until the end of April to present a better offer. Falconer anticipates that members would accept a permanent wage increase of 8-10%.
These teachers formed a branch within the Taiwan Higher Education Union, which includes faculty from higher education institutions across Taiwan.
The teachers' pay is determined by a 10-point scale based on experience, retention, and qualifications. Despite claims from BCTW that salaries have increased over the past two decades, the pay scale itself has remained unchanged.
In contrast, Taiwan's minimum wage has nearly doubled, and tuition fees at BCTW English language centers have risen by 35% since 2016, according to the union's estimates.
Furthermore, teachers on an hourly wage receive a flat rate of NT$950 (£23.50), which has not changed in 20 years.
While the British Council argues that this rate is higher than other schools, Falconer highlights that the contractual obligation to work an hour and a half per hourly payment effectively means teachers are underpaid compared to others in the market, despite their qualifications and experience.
British Council Taiwan, operating under the British Office in Taipei, manages three teaching centers with around 55 teachers and 2,000 students ranging from six-year-olds to adults. Teachers come from various countries, including the UK, Canada, South Africa, America, and Taiwan.
Despite being a profitable institution with a reputation for quality teaching in Taipei, much of the income generated at the teaching centers leaves Taiwan to contribute to the British Council's overall surplus to pay managers abroad.
Many contract teachers are required to work on Saturdays and Sundays, a point of contention for the union, which is seeking ways to address this issue, such as providing compensation or alternative scheduling.
In Taiwan, unions must undergo a minimum three-month collective bargaining period and government mediation before being granted the right to strike. The union urges BCTW managers to return to negotiations before the mediation process begins at the end of April.
The British Council has expressed its commitment to continue negotiations to resolve the dispute, aiming to minimize disruptions to students and parents while maintaining the quality of teaching during ongoing negotiations.
* Nguồn bài viết Tư vấn du học Anh Quốc - Quốc Tế Du Học Đồng Thịnh dongthinh.co.uk (+84) 96 993.7773 | (+84) 96 1660.266 | (+44) 020 753 800 87 | info@dongthinh.co.uk
Post a Comment