To the members of ETEA – 7:

It is with a heavy heart that we see the closing of Inlingua today and the loss of work for all of you. These are sad times that we are all facing and it is a shame to see such a wonderful group of teachers lose their jobs. I recall eight years ago being asked to attend a “birthday party” to speak about my own experiences in joining the ETEA and an organizing drive. Not many union members actually have the experience of organizing a union into their workplace, and you were an inspirational group.

As president of the ETEA I have had the good fortune to attend a few of your bargaining unit meetings. I was immediately struck by what a close cohesive group of dedicated professionals you were. Since joining the ETEA many of you took on roles within the ETEA to help us grow and further our interests. Some shoes will be difficult if not impossible to fill. Of course, unions are about all of us – I feel so fortunate to have met and worked with each and every one of you. As a group you stepped up and showed solidarity for other ETEA bargaining units. You were a great and important part of the ETEA and it is sad to see this day come.

As you move forward I wish you all the best. I hope many of you will find work at other ETEA unionized schools in the future. Many of you may choose to take this moment to move into other areas of work, and as you do I hope you take your union experience with you. While we are losing you as members, your contributions have made our organization stronger and you will always have a place within the ETEA. To help with this transition and any issues that may arise as part of your employment after the school closes, both Graeme and John will still be available to offer support in the coming months. We would all like to be here to support you as best we can.

The ETEA is local 21 of the Federation of Post- Secondary Educators. Several of you have taken on roles within some of the FPSE committees and have not only supported the work of our union, but post-secondary unions across the province. I’d also like to share with you the following statement from FPSE as well as direct you to a media release from FPSE on the closing of inlingua.

FPSE President, Terri Van Steinburg’s statement – https://www.fpse.ca/news/presidents-comment/last-day-work-inlingua-workers-respect-and-appreciation-their-contributions

Media release – https://www.fpse.ca/news/fpse-news/media-release-private-post-secondary-layoffs-continue-union-concerned-about-what

This year is the 25^th anniversary for the ETEA. We had planned a barbeque this June to celebrate, but of course have had to postpone those plans. Once we can reschedule, know that you are still welcome to attend. In fact I hope you do and we and we can all share a moment of camaraderie. Feel free to reach out to me any time.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Drager

ETEA President

Please leave a solidarity message for the workers from Inlingua:

On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fpsebc/photos/a.1483797841915909/2286842624944756/?type=3&theater

On Twitter https://twitter.com/FPSE/status/1266379939902701568

This COVID-19 pandemic has hit our economy and economies around the world hard. It has had an unprecedented effect on our members ability to work and provide services to students. It has meant that students cannot meet face to face with their teachers and other students. This is normally a time of year when we see members recalled to work for the busy summer season and schools making new hires. The reality is that teachers are not being recalled to work and some of our most senior members have been laid-off. We predict that this pandemic will affect around 75% of our membership, if not more over the coming months. We have already seen the unfortunate closure of Inlingua, ETEA – 7, and are concerned more schools may follow. The ETEA has been working with the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators to message government about the importance of supporting our industry as part of a road map to economic recovery. Please follow the link for a statement from FPSE on the deep layoffs that have been experienced in private-post secondary, especially in language schools.

FPSE statement on private post-secondary institution layoffs

For members who have been laid off and need to access some of the benefits provided please see the FPSE information on Financial Benefits and Assistance Available During the COVID-19 Emergency.

We wish everyone the best through these difficult times. We will continue to work with our members and employers as we move through this. Contact your union representative if you have any questions.

Dear ETEA members,

As you know, over the past few weeks the COVID-19 pandemic has brought dramatic changes to our industry, as well as to many other parts of our lives. The news is often alarming and uncertain. We would like everyone to know that bargaining unit directors and the executive are in contact with each other, our partners at FPSE, and our respective managers about steps that can be taken to protect students, teachers, and staff at all our campuses. As you know, most of our class delivery has recently moved online, and this presents new challenges. Many of us are now working from home.

We are working to seek fair, safe and just responses to the current crisis regarding finances, work hours, and students while protecting our union rights and safeguarding our collective agreements, as well as being sensitive to the tremendous difficulties our employers are facing. We will all have to work together to get through this difficult time.

In the days and weeks ahead, we ask that all members remember their rights, practice effective social distancing, keep in constant communication with each other and with their stewards, and most importantly, stay safe. Please keep the following in mind:

-If you feel sick or develop symptoms, stay home, and call the Healthlink BC hotline at 811 (see more from the BC Centre for Disease Control here: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/common-questions).

-Try to limit your contact with elderly people and those with compromised immune systems. 

-Wash your hands regularly, and try to avoid touching your face.

With effective communication, and by looking out for each other, we can get through this crisis together.

In solidarity,

ETEA

ETEA congratulates teachers at Sprott Shaw Language College for ratifying a new collective agreement, effective Friday, July 26th, 2019! They had been without a contract for over a year and a half, and had been bargaining for nearly eight months when the deal was reached. The new contract will be in effect until February 28, 2021.

Bargainers were able to make significant gains both monetarily and non-monetarily, including an impressive 13% wage increase and a lump-sum payout retroactive to March 1st of this year. Hourly wages and paid preparation time were also separated, and sick and wellness pay was increased from six to seven days per year.

Teachers also now have paid preparation time instead of having to teach every first Monday of a new session, and break times were reconfigured to be more suitable to teachers’ needs.

As the ETEA 6 President put it,

“Success at the table this time around is to be savored… The real hope and satisfaction comes in knowing that we have opened the door and can start planning an aggressive strategy to get us even closer to where we deserve.”

Well done, everyone! Solidarity from your brothers and sisters in ETEA!

Attention members: the 2019 ETEA Annual General Meeting is fast approaching. This year the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 30th, at 6:30 pm (refreshments at 6:00 pm), at the Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch), 350 West Georgia Street (Peter Kaye Room, lower level). Please see the agenda for more information. Nominations for executive positions (President, First Vice President, and Treasurer) are now open. Nominations can be sent in advance to etea.local6.pres@gmail.com, or made from the floor of the meeting.

This is an important opportunity to take part in the democratic process and stay informed about the issues facing us as a union and as an industry today. Hope to see many of you there!

In solidarity,

ETEA