Topic: NEW-Teachers uniting for first time-PLEASE READ

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello NamTok   et al


re: an auditorium vs. a hotel


I'm not really sure if a hotel (especially a budget hotel) would have

a conference room large enough to hold all of us at the same time;

that's why I was sort of thinking auditorium.  All of this is flexible,

especially since we don't know yet if 30, 300 or 3,000 will come!


re: selecton of a lawyer


That would be the domain of the AGENDA committee members.

If we try to do everything by vote or through forum discussion,

we'll get seriously bogged down and never accomplish anything.


re: choosing the best date / time of year


I was thinking it might be smart to shoot for a 3 day weekend in March

since Thai schools and universities are off for summer break,

meaning a lot of teachers would be free to attend,

and schools would be hunting for teachers.


STOP PRESS : Before we get too excited about this,

I think it's time to bring up a very important question.


Without the blessing and support of Bangkok Phil @ Ajarn,

a large-scale project of this nature is dead in the water.


Personally, I'd love to remain behind the scenes or join a committee;

I have no personal ambition to run or manage this - I'm too busy.


So maybe now is a good time to ask the venerable Bangkok Phil

where he stands on the idea, and if Ajarn would consider 

sponsoring or co-sponsoring an event like this -

perhaps in conjunction with TEFLWatch ?





Bangkok Phil ?   

[NamTok]

     Bangkok Phil?!?

       Are you there?!?

       

       

[NamTok]

   Since I posted my proposal that foreign teachers meet in Bangkok for a weekend to discuss the topic of this thread and, since Kent F. subsequently has posted numerous specific further suggestions, the thread died. No one who'd posted previous to my proposal and Kent F's specific suggestions has posted.

   It might seem that all the posters who'd posted anit-union statements, even when no formal, organized union had been proposed by another poster, might just be anti-unity, period.

   I say anti-unity.

[Mods-Rockers]

Maybe you should be asking yourself where all the pro union/unity people disappeared to? Seems like for many it was just all mouth and trousers.

[hero]

I agree!!

I guess you'd probably label me as "anti" because I take a negative view of the whole thing.  The thing is, I'm all for it!  The only negativity in me is the prediction that this exact thing would happen.  They know who they are, but the posters (here and other boards) that get all excited every 3 or 4 months about this "union thing" and slate everyone who doesn't respond wholeheartedly - where are they now when KFK has put an idea on the table (and a damn good one IMO)!

As Mods-Rockers rightly points out, it seems they perhaps lack the ....(fill as appropriate).... 

I'd almost like to do something about it myself, except I work two jobs and also have a young child to take care of.  I'm happy in my work and give up plenty of hours a week to this site Meanwhile, the main "mouth" on this topic is out probably "doing what all guys (to use his own label) in Bangkok do every weekend"!

[hero]

It might seem that all the posters who'd posted anit-union statements, even when no formal, organized union had been proposed by another poster, might just be anti-unity, period.

That's really funny - it just goes to show that some people really can spin anything whichever way they want! 

[Speaksoftly]

One of the problems is the same as with this site itself:  without anonymity, it's very easy to get rid of the problem by getting rid of the leader.  But you can't have a real union that remains anonymous.  That's part of the point of a union.  It needs a large, public membership with strong leadership.

[admin]

I am pro-union myself. I don't try to make it too obvious though. I don't see how it could succeed in the current landscape that is Thailand. This is about the best we can do, a public forum to name schools. There is a huge demand for teachers, but I believe the demand is shallow, ie only exists in the current environment of low wages, cowering teachers, and subpar working conditions. Change it all for the better and there won't be the demand for teachers from the schools.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Good Day Mates 


In light of the lack of serious commitments to form an association (or union as some are calling it)

maybe we should just dump the whole idea - and focus instead on an annual Thailand Job Fair.


Whenever newbies pop onto a forum and ask about the best way to land a job in Thailand,

the replies from the vets are usually the same.  Come and meet with school managers.

And yet there isn't a one-stop venue where teachers can do this.  Amazing, no?


By hosting an annual Job Fair, we could form a loose association of teachers by default.

We'd charge teachers 500 Baht to enter for the day and mingle with school reps;

We'd charge 4,000 Baht to schools & recruiters to rent a booth for the day,

and then put all of the money we raise into an association fund -

to be used for the benefit of EFL teachers in Thailand.


We could schedule it as an all-day Saturday event (11am to 7pm)

and then throw a big TEFL Bash on that evening starting at 8,

with food, drinks, VIP autographs, the whole enchilada.


We could hire a local rock band to play as well. 


If Ajarn.com, ThaiVisa.com, ESLCafe and TEFLWatch support the idea

it could be a smashing hit - and something everyone could unite behind.

i.e., an annual Job Fair is a win-win event that benefits the entire community.

[smokinsa]

Hi everyone. My apologies for being away so long. It looks as though you all have been debating and making some outstanding progress. Keep up the good work!

Smokinsa 

[samvimes]

How about some professional development??

There is loads of stuff out there and I am sure there are lots of teachers who could put together a seminar or conference for a few days.

Example:
http://www.teachasiaonline.com/pmwiki/index.php?n=Main.Seminars