ETEA will be hosting a social at Goldie’s Pizza on March 10. This event is open to all ESL and private-sector teachers. It’s a great chance to meet other teachers and find out what’s going on in the ESL industry. Pizza will be provided. There might even be a cold beverage or two on offer. Feel free to drop by any time between 4:00 and 7:00.
Goldie’s Pizza
605 West Pender (at Seymour)
March 10, 2016
4 – 7 pm
We are pleased to announce that International Language Institute (ILI) is the latest ESL school to join ETEA as Local 12. Teachers at ILI were strong in their resolve, responding to recent changes in their working conditions affecting pay. They voted unanimously in favour of unionizing, and on September 14 were certified. ILI Vancouver specializes in University Preparation and is a testing centre for TOEFL and IELTS.
Changes to the ESL industry have been a major issue in both the public and private sectors this past year with cuts to the public sector and regulation changes to the private sector. ETEA is hosting a panel-speakers event bringing together speakers from a range of public and private ESL institutions to speak about the challenges they face with growing privatization and how we can work together to improve the industry. We encourage the public to come and join the discussion. This a free event at SFU Harbour Centre room 1700 April 2 2015 at 7 pm.
ETEA enthusiastically welcomes Vancouver English Centre (VEC) as its newest local. Teachers at VEC organized themselves quickly in response to increasing privacy issues and job security concerns. On December 1, 2014 90% of teachers voted in favour of unionizing. As ETEA President Kevin Drager noted, “With a strong vote in favour of joining the ETEA, teachers at VEC have come together to show they care about their profession and their workplace. VEC can only be better for having such a committed group of teachers. I am proud to welcome them into the ETEA.”
Kevin Drager was voted the new President of ETEA at the last annual general meeting in May. Kevin brings a wealth of leadership and experience to the ETEA from his work at Local 6 (KGIC) and on the organizing committee. Kevin has a clear vision moving forward in 2014-2015: to consolidate and strengthen ETEA after its recent fast growth with the addition of locals 8, 9 and 10. Kevin won the election in ETEA’s first ever contested election for President.