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.
After difficult negotiations that led to job action and mediation, the teachers at PGIC Vancouver have finally reached an agreement with the Loyalist Group. Though not everything the teachers were looking for, the agreement does provide an average 15 per cent increase in the first year and reduced the employers proposed six step, 15 year pay grid to a five step, 10 year grid. Local 10 members voted in favour of ratification on July 24, 2015.
We are proud to announce that the teachers at Hanson International Academy voted overwhelmingly to join the ETEA. On July 20, 2015 the Labour Board granted the certification making the instructors at Hanson Academy ETEA local 11. Hanson Academy is a career college offering business and hospitality and tourism programs. The instructors at Hanson ran a highly efficient organizing drive that garnered nearly unanimous support. We look forward to working with this motivated group and wish them success in negotiating their first collective agreement.
It was twenty years ago today (June 20) that ETEA started as a union. Since then we have grown to be around 350 members strong, and growing.
On this, our twentieth birthday, past president and honorary retired member, Michael Wicks, has asked the following message be passed on. I think his message captures the spirit that is ETEA, and as president I would like to thank him and all that came before for helping grow our little union.
Members of ETEA
On this June 20th, 2015 day of our 20th Anniversary, I am sending my personal congratulations to every past and present member of ETEA.
We have beaten the odds of a small union lasting 20 years, due to everyone’s commitment to our vision of a profession, to our ability to working together, and our expectation to consider all opinions before acting.
I salute the new generation of dedicated people who are moving the ETEA forward.
Remember, we are not the cost of production — WE ARE THE PRODUCERS OF WEALTH — and we deserve our share, respect, and our voice!
Michael Wicks