English language teachers strike in Auckland

English Language Teachers Strike

Teaching staff at the Kaplan Aspect English Language School in Parnell Auckland went on strike yesterday in support of their Collective Employment Agreement claims.

This decision comes after the company announced a “restructuring” which Mike Treen, National Director of Unite, the teachers' union, called a blatant attempt to get around good faith negotiations.

Treen said the company has told staff they have to accept the company’s new conditions or be made redundant. These conditions include increasing the teaching hours from 22.5 to 24 and imposing a requirement to be on site for 37.5 hours a week when this was optional for non-contact teaching hours previously.

The company tried to impose these changes late last year but had to withdraw them after the Employment Authority ruled that they were in breach of the law.

“We have only had two negotiation sessions on the Collective Agreement since then but the company are now trying to bypass this process with a take it or leave it approach in a so-called restructuring," Treen said.

"We have made major concessions to the company in negotiations that meet all their operational needs.

"By rejecting these offers and using the sledge hammer of restructuring they have forced the union to take action in support of its claims."

The company has engaged casual teachers and brought others up from Christchurch to teach some of the classes. But most students have walked out of classes in support of the teachers.

"This is the first major strike in this industry in Auckland that I can remember," Treen continued.

"Teachers are extremely reluctant to take such a steps because of the potential damage to the schools they work for and therefore their own jobs.

"This strike is an act of desperation to get the company to negotiaite in good faith without the threat of redundancy hanging over them."

Treen gave the students a lesson outside the school in the English word “scab” and its use as a noun and verb in industrial disputes, referring them to a famous short essay by Jack London

The Scab
by Jack London, (1876-1916)

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue.

Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with.

Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

Judas sold his Saviour for thirty pieces of silver.

Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the british army.

The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.

A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

Author --- Jack London (1876-1916)

NO SCABS!

Contact Unite National Director Mike Treen 0295254744
Teachers delegate John Howell on picket line 0210495860