Since many foreigners are staying in Taiwan for longer and longer periods of time, I think it is a good idea. There would be no shortage of work though for the union as there are many issues that would need to be dealt with.

The whole system in my mind is based on the short term foreigner, and as such, people get treated with a disposable respect. I was just writing about my experiences with bosses in Taiwan recently (but not finished yet) and I realized that I think bosses here tend to suck and expect to be allowed to exploit their employees, even if it is only 'small' things.

I've been here 10 years and seen / heard a lot of bad things, but am unclear as to how a union would work or help, beyond offering advice about rights and how to get in touch with the foreign police and labor dept.

There seems to be enough work around at the moment, and few enough teachers, that anyone with a month or two of f***-you money can draw lines in sand and set demands. With regard to pay and conditions I don't think setting standards would fly. Of necessity there's going to be a free market with teachers of different abilities, expectations and luck getting more $ than others, and so long as there's a relatively free exchange of information among the community out here I think it's pretty easy to work out if you're being screwed or not, and if it's worth it.

But what do others think?

It would be helpful to schools and foreign teachers alike to start an advocacy group for more transparency and share experience. I think there is ill will and misunderstanding on both sides of the equation, something a union could definitely help sort out.

I agree with Jazz that most schools treat the foreigner as someone who will not be long here but that's just what they want sometimes. Then again, a lot of foreigners come through here just long enough to soak up some culture, earn some money and then continue their travels.

It's still a teachers market here though and seems to have been for at least the 10+ years I've been here so I think sooner or later, the serious teachers gravitate towards the schools that demand a higher level of professionalism and reward their teachers accordingly.

IMHO, I think this board collectively serves some of the functions a union might, eg., discussing work available, asking legal questions, rating schools (rarely done and mostly complaining).

Pretty much agree with Paul. Since there is really no teaching standard to hold foreign teachers to, there's no point in having a trying to form union. Unions are for professional organizations who pay into a fund. This money placed into this fund is to pay professionals who stand behind their unions' workers and fight to for fair working rights and conditions.

I have to agree with Robert's comment also "the serious teachers gravitate towards the schools that demand a higher level of professionalism and reward their teachers accordingly."

McLovin

There is an unwritten rule, and even laws to protect the teachers, but teachers probably have no idea what they are, and schools routinely do things to basically steal from their teachers.

For example, the whole you pay taxes on all of your income but the school doesn't report all of your income and you DON"T get part of your money back.

I did call the foreign affairs police station once and was forwarded to someone Taiwanese that worked in the government who could answer my question regarding a possible illegal situation at my job. It was about being fined for not being 10 minutes early to work, but not being paid for those ten minutes as an hourly employee. The guy said very clearly give me the name of the school and I will force them to quit. I didn't, and figured I would just tell the school to avoid any embarrassment. Well, when they let me go for not being cooperative enough that was one of the reasons...

Better information dissemination about laws and protection from unscrupulous schools would be nice, rather than lucking out and getting a fair boss.

I was against Unions, for multiple years back home. Now, having personally experienced the buxiban bosses/business in Taiwan....I AM ALL FOR IT! heh

Fair enough - but how would you propose setting one up?

A union requires dues to be paid - to fund lawyers and the like - and a certain amount of admin to collect the dues and act as an organizer for legal action / repository of knowledge.

I don't see how that would work out here. But, as in earlier posts, am hopeful that this site, like Forumosa, will evolve to serve much the same purpose. Knowledge is power, and all that.

So, that's my prescription, get involved in this site - post problems, scams, victories and so forth, with a case in point being the liability for classroom accidents posts from the old bulletin finding a home on a thread here.

Yeah. I would like to see that post over here too... Not sure why certain folks are reluctant to switch. Maybe I'm missing something here. Anyway... send me a PM or drop any issues in the help section if you have any ideas to improve the site.